By Julia Bayly
BDN Staff Writer
SMYRNA, Maine — A patch of ice in the northbound lane of Interstate 95 in southern Aroostook County was the cause of three separate motor vehicle accidents within minutes of one another Saturday night, sending three people to the hospital, according to the Maine State Police.
The chain of events began just before 9 p.m. when a 2005 Jeep Liberty driven by Lori Deschaine, 39, of Westfield hit the ice patch near mile marker 291, spun out, struck the guardrail and stopped in the passing lane facing south toward the oncoming traffic, according to Sgt. Josh Haines.
Soon after, a 2010 Ford F-250 driven by Russell Stewart, 34, of Hodgdon lost control in the same spot, rolled over and came to rest against the guardrail.
Seconds later, a third driver, Victoria Stewart, 42, of Houlton was ejected from her 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer after it left the roadway and rolled over several times, Haines said.
Victoria Stewart, who was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident, was taken to Houlton Regional Hospital and subsequently transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center, Haines said.
Russell Stewart and his passenger, 33-year-old Stephanie Ivey of Hodgdon, were taken to Houlton Regional Hospital where they were treated for injuries not considered life threatening, according to Haines.
The Ford F-250 and the Chevrolet Trailblazer were each declared total losses, Haines said.
State police officers were assisted at the scene by members of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, Houlton and Oakland fire departments and Houlton Ambulance.
Interstate 95 was closed to traffic for about an hour following the accident, Haines said.
