Mass casualty incident: several people injured in Sabattus crash
Aug. 12—SABATTUS — Several people were reported injured Thursday night when three vehicles collided on Crowley Road.
Police, fire and rescue crews went to the area of Crowley Road and Grove Street just after 8 p.m. for a report of the multi-vehicle crash. Several ambulances were sent to the area and firefighters from Lewiston Engine 4 were assisting at the scene.
The crash occurred near the area where Crowley Road meets Grove Street, a short distance from the turn at Littlefield Road. The crash was listed as a mass casualty incident requiring assistance from multiple agencies.
Early reports were that nine people were hurt in the wreck, some of them seriously. Ambulances were sent from United Ambulance Services and from departments in Lisbon, Durham, Turner, Topsham, Auburn and Poland.
Sabattus fire officials later reported that a total of ten people were involved in the crash, the majority of them with some level of injury. One of the victims did not seek medical attention.
According to a witness who lives near the scene, a small black car had crossed the double yellow line at "a very high rate of speed" and slammed into the driver's side of a maroon minivan. The car then spun into a truck, according to the witness.
The minivan, she said, was occupied by two adults and three children, including an infant, a girl and a boy, roughly 7 and 10 years old. Fire crews had to smash out windows to free them.
According to the witness, the man driving the car was bleeding but conscious and alert. The man in the truck was not injured, she said.
While fire and rescue crews were on the way, several neighbors came to the aid of the victims.
No further information was available. Police, fire and rescue crews remained at the scene an hour after the crash was reported. More than two dozen, firefighters, paramedic and police officers were involved in the rescue effort.
