WATERVILLE — A mechanical failure in the front end of a 2000 Volkswagon Jetta is believed to have caused a head-on collision with a KVCAP passenger van Monday afternoon on North Street that sent one driver to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

Joshua Palmer, 31, of New Hamsphire, was driving the Jetta west around 4:30 p.m. on North Street when he described “feeling a sensation in the wheel like he was hitting a pothole,” said Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey, of the Waterville Police Department, on Tuesday.

The Jetta swerved and hit the 2010 white Chevy van driven by Randall Nelson, 62, of Fairfield. The van is owned by the the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program and was carrying two passengers at the time of the crash, Rumsey said.

Nelson was taken to nearby MaineGeneral Medical Center Thayer Unit with minor injuries. One passenger in the van complained of arm pain but was not taken to the hospital. The Jetta’s driver was not injured.

Police were not able to find a pothole in the area and believe a mechanical failure in the front end of the car was responsible for the crash, Rumsey said.

Both vehicles were not drivable and were towed from the scene.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm


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