County residents hurt in Benton crash
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
BENTON — Five Aroostook County residents were injured in a single-vehicle crash Monday night while traveling downstate.
Photo courtesy of MSP
A CRASH on I-95 in Benton Monday sent five County residents to the hospital. The 2002 Pontiac, owned by Rocky Hill and driven by Nathan Manning-Harris, was demolished. The accident remains under investigation.
“On March 25 at approximately 7:02 p.m., Maine state troopers responded to Benton on I-95 for a report of a motor vehicle crash with multiple injuries. Nathan Manning-Harris, 28, of Easton, was operating a 2002 Pontiac northbound on I-95 in Benton when his vehicle left the roadway and flipped over in the median,” said Sgt. Aaron Hayden, Maine State Police.
According to Hayden, five occupants were inside the vehicle — many of whom were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected.
“The passengers included Alberto Vasquez, 34, Shelagh Gates, 34, Bennett Gahagan, 25, and the vehicle’s owner, Rocky Hill, 35, of Mapleton. All sustained multiple injuries and were taken to Thayer Hospital in Waterville for treatment,” said Hayden.
Manning-Harris was taken to a different health care facility.
“The driver, Manning-Harris, was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center by Life Flight and is reported to be in stable condition,” said Hayden.
A state police accident reconstructionist responded to the scene to assist, as did Fairfield Fire and Rescue, Fairfield Police Department, Delta Ambulance and Clinton Police Department.
“The interstate’s northbound lane was shut down for approximately one and a half hours. The accident is still being investigated by Maine State Police and no other vehicles were involved in the collision,” said Hayden.
Hayden said all occupants of the vehicle are from the Aroostook County area.
The crash’s primary investigator is Trooper Dane Wing.
