SMYRNA, Maine — Three people, including a Maine State Police trooper, were lucky to be alive Monday evening after a freak traffic accident on Interstate 95.
According to Maine State Police Sgt. Brian Harris of Troop F, Trooper Jill Monahan was responding to a report of a car off the road on Interstate 95 at about 10:40 p.m. Monday.
Jayde McNinch, 19, of Littleton had been traveling north on Interstate 95 when she lost control of her 2009 Chevrolet car and skidded off the road into the median area.
Trooper Monahan was standing outside McNinch’s car in the median, speaking to McNinch who was still inside the vehicle. As the two were talking, a 2005 Chevrolet pickup operated by Eric Clark, 37, of Houlton spun out of control on the same icy stretch. Clark’s vehicle veered into the median and struck the rear of McNinch’s car.
The impact of the collision caused McNinch’s car to spin around and strike Monahan. McNinch was partially ejected from her vehicle and dragged a short distance as her vehicle spun around.
Clark’s truck then continued on and struck a tree. Clark was uninjured, according to Sgt. Harris.
Family members brought McNinch to Houlton Regional Hospital, where she was treated for leg and arm injuries. She was later released.
Trooper Monahan was transported to Houlton Regional Hospital by Houlton Ambulance, where she was treated for leg and arm injuries and later released. Both vehicles sustained significant damage in the crash and were towed from the scene.
