Charges may be pending in Patten crash

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    PATTEN — Charges may be pending in a two-car collision on Route 11 that sent two women to Eastern Maine Medical Center Friday.
    According to Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross, deputies are still investigating the collision that sent Patricia Adams, 67, of Patten and Kristy Morneault, 20, of Madawaska to the hospital. Adams was traveling north on Route 11 on a section known as the South Patten Road at 3:36 p.m. in a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina. Adams’ vehicle reportedly crossed the centerline and entered the oncoming path of a 2002 Mazda Protégé driven by Morneault, striking the vehicle head-on.
    Adams was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center where she remained in critical condition on Tuesday morning, according to a hospital spokesperson. Morneault was also reported to have been taken to EMMC, but hospital officials had no information on her condition, which means she may not have signed a consent form to have that information released to the public or she is not a patient at EMMC.
    Weather and road conditions were not a factor in the collision, according to the accident report. No cause for the accident was listed in the report. The condition of both women was “apparently normal,” the report states.
    However, Morneault, who was driving in her proper lane, was given a blood alcohol test at the time of the crash. Ross said a subpoena would also be issued for blood alcohol tests on Adams.
    Deputy Patricia McLaughlin investigated the case. An accident reconstruction was ongoing, Ross said, and a decision on whether any charges would be filed in the case would be made after consulting with the District Attorney.
    Both vehicles were towed from the scene due to disabling damage.