Two people were injured seriously in a head-on collision Wednesday morning on Route 9 in Chelsea.

Eric Cooper, 28, of Randolph, was driving south on Route 9 near Skyline Drive when his 2000 Honda Accord crossed over the centerline and struck a car driven by Meagan Damon, 33, of West Gardiner, said Deputy Chief Ryan Reardon, of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. The crash was reported at 7:38 a.m. Wednesday.

It’s not clear why Cooper, whose license was suspended, drove into the other lane, but excessive speed doesn’t appear to have been a factor, Reardon said. The crash is under investigation. Operating with a suspended license would be a criminal charge, and there could be further charges once the investigation is completed, he said.

The collision pushed Damon’s 2004 Subaru station wagon into a ditch and left Cooper’s car in the middle of the road, Reardon said, adding that both cars probably were a total loss. Both drivers were taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, he said. Reardon said their injuries appeared serious but not life-threatening. Information about the drivers’ conditions was unavailable Wednesday afternoon from the hospital.

The Chelsea Fire Department, which also responded to the crash, extricated both drivers and was assisted by Augusta fire and rescue units, according to the Chelsea department.


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