SKOWHEGAN — The southbound lane on U.S. Route 201 in Skowhegan was closed to traffic for nearly an hour Monday morning following a rear-end collision 3 miles south of downtown that left one vehicle overturned.
Two people were taken to the hospital by ambulance, police said. Poles and wires were reported down.
The crash happened at about 10:15 a.m. A white Jeep sport utility vehicle was on its side off the northbound lane while the other vehicle, a Ford passenger car with heavy front end damage, was parked on the southbound lane.
The Skowhegan fire department, state and local police were on the scene. Both travel lanes were back open at 11 a.m.
A woman speaks with a Skowhegan firefighter Monday morning as other firefighters search the nearby woods for a dog that ran from this overturned Jeep following a two-car accident on U.S. Route 201 in Skowhegan. Morning Sentinel photo by David Leaming
Skowhegan Police Chief David Bucknam said a brown and white pit bull terrier that had been riding in one of the vehicles had not been accounted for by 3 p.m. Monday.
Bucknam said Denise Levesque, 61, of Moose River, was driving a white Jeep Cherokee, being followed on Route 201 by Cherie Curtis, 38, of Canaan, driving a black Ford Taurus.
Bucknam said Levesque slowed for another vehicle, which was attempting to make a left turn. He said Curtis apparently did not see the Jeep slowing down and struck the Jeep from behind, causing the Jeep to roll over onto its side.
Levesque appeared to have been shaken up by the crash but did not have any apparent injuries, Bucknam said. She was taken to Redington-Fairview General Hospital where she was examined and released.
Curtis suffered a broken collar bone and was being checked at the hospital for a possible concussion.
Bucknam said both vehicles were total losses.
Bucknam said the speeds at which both vehicles were traveling appeared to have been appropriate for the 55 mph speed limit along that stretch of road. No charges are anticipated.
Office Amber Damon is the accident investigator.
“We are currently still looking for a pit bull who was in the vehicle with Cherie Curtis,” Bucknam said. “He’s brown and white in color and answers to the name of King.”
Anyone with information on the dog is asked to call the Skowhegan Police Department at 474-6908.
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