WATERVILLE — A man who was injured Monday in a traffic accident near Front and Colby streets apparently suffered a medical incident just before the accident, according to police.

Russell Michaud, 57, of Mutton Lane in Clinton, was heading north at 3:26 p.m. on Front Street when the 2006 Chevrolet Impala he was driving went off the road, struck and knocked down two light poles and a tree and landed in a grassy area near the police station.

Waterville police Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said Tuesday that Michaud told police he blacked out before the accident. Police consulted a state police accident reconstructionist who did not do a reconstruction but noted a lack of evidence that the vehicle swerved or the driver braked before the crash, according to Rumsey.

Based on the inspection of the crash scene and an interview with Michaud, police concluded Michaud’s medical problem had led to the crash.

Michaud was taken by Delta Ambulance to MaineGeneral Thayer Center for Health after the accident as a precaution because he suffered a bruise on his chest and officials thought he should be checked out, given the mechanics and severity of the crash, Rumsey said.

“He did go to the hospital and while at the hospital, he suffered from some different medical emergency not related to the car crash,” Rumsey said.

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He said once police completed the investigation, there was no reason to follow up on Michaud’s condition, so police did not know Michaud’s whereabouts as of late Tuesday afternoon. He was still being treated at Thayer Monday night when police left the emergency room, Rumsey said.

He said police do not anticipate charging Michaud in the crash, which destroyed Michaud’s car as well as two light poles valued at a little more than $5,000 each.

“Apparently, as he was going across the (grassy area), after hitting the first light pole, he swiped against a tree and de-barked part of it,” Rumsey said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the light poles had not been replaced, but the city had started the process of replacing them, he said.

The accident occurred where Front Street veers off toward Colby Street to the east and College Avenue to the west. Officer Linda Smedberg investigated the crash.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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