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By AMY CALDER
Staff Writer 07/08/2008

CHINA — A Waterville woman was flown to a Bangor hospital Monday after the car she was driving on Jones Road apparently was sideswiped by another car and was catapulted into a pasture off Lakeview Drive.

Jennifer Gledhill, 27, was driving north on Jones Road, had stopped at a stop sign and was attempting to turn left onto Lakeview Drive when her 2002 Chevrolet Malibu was sideswiped by a 1998 Ford sedan being driven south on Lakeview Drive, according to Kennebec County Sheriff Randall A. Liberty.

The Ford was driven by Monique Albert, 18, of Albion, Liberty said.

“Jennifer was actually complaining of pain in her abdomen so as a result, she was LifeFlighted to Bangor (Eastern Maine Medical Center),” he said. “Monique was injury-free.”

A hospital spokeswoman said late Monday that Gledhill was listed in fair condition.

He said the Chevrolet was destroyed and the front of the Ford was extensively damaged in the accident, reported at 12:50 p.m.

Liberty said no charges were filed in connection with the accident.

“We believe, at this time, that driver inattention (on the part of Gledhill) was the contributing factor,” he said.

The intersection of Lakeview Drive and Jones Road is located near Route 3.
At the scene, the Chevrolet Malibu was in the pasture, its driver’s side door and left rear door smashed in.

The driver’s side airbag had deployed. The car had broken through an electric fence and turned around so its front was facing Lakeview Drive.

Kennebec County Staff Sgt. Michael Tuminaro was investigating the accident. The China Volunteer Fire Department also was on scene.

Neighbors Linda Gardner and Nikki Coro of Lakeview Drive had come out of their houses to watch the goings-on.

Both women said usually accidents occur on Route 3 and not on Lakeview Drive, although drivers typically travel faster than the posted speed limit of 40 mph on Lakeview.

“We hear the sirens all the time on Route 3,” Gardner said.

She said she heard sirens Monday and assumed another accident had occurred on busy Route 3 but when she looked out, she saw the car in the pasture and people working frantically to free a woman inside.
“I’m shaking,” she said, as she watched the wrecker haul the Chevrolet away.

Gardner said she has lived in her home 21 years; Coro said she has lived in her house eight years.

“This is the first time I’ve seen an accident here,” Coro said.


Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com

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