WATERVILLE — Police continue to investigate whether alcohol was involved in a late afternoon three-vehicle crash on West River Road Wednesday that sent one injured woman to the hospital and another to a hospital to be tested for blood alcohol level.

The crash occurred at 3:52 p.m. at the intersection of West River Road and Jacobs Drive when a 2008 Ford passenger car being driven south of West River Road by Barbara Herzing, 59, of Waterville, slowed down to make a turn from West River Road onto Jacob Drive, according to Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey.

Herzing’s car was struck from behind by a 2001 Ford pickup truck being driven south by Jessica Reitdyk, 46, of Augusta, Rumsey said.

Herzing’s car was pushed forward and struck a 2008 Subaru driven by Lucille Higgins, 66, of Bangor, that was stopped on Jacob Drive, preparing to turn onto West River.

All three vehicles ended up in a ditch beside the road on West River Road.

Higgins was not injured, but Herzing was treated at Inland Hospital. Reitdyk was also taken to the hospital for administration of a blood kit that tests for alcohol level, according to Rumsey.

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“We’re investigating the possibility that Reitdyk may have been under the influence,” Rumsey said, adding that police do not know whether she was or was not under the influence.

“We definitely know she was following too closely to the unit turning onto Jacob Drive and failed to slow down and avoid the crash,” he said.

Typically, tests results take weeks to be returned, he said.

All three vehicles were so heavily damaged that they could not be driven and were towed from the scene, he said.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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