Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – An Easton family is lucky to be alive, following a head-on collision at the intersection of Route 10 and the Centerline Rd. on Wednesday, June 18, that claimed the life of a 77-year-old Monticello woman.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
A HEAD-ON COLLISION at the intersection of Route 10 and the Centerline Rd. on Wednesday, June 18, claimed the life of a Monticello woman, Catherine Rock, 77, and injured three members of an Easton family, Virginia Smith, 35, and her daughters, ages 12 and 13. Here, emergency personnel from Crown Ambulance, the Presque Isle Fire Department and Presque Isle Police Department assist at the scene as a line of traffic forms.
The Presque Isle Police Department received a call at approximately 10:19 a.m. reporting a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Route 10 and the Centerline Rd. A light rain was falling at the time but did not factor into the cause of the accident.
“The accident involved a Chevy extended cab pick-up truck, driven by Virginia Smith, 35, of Easton, and a Chevy Blazer driven by Catherine Rock, 77, of Monticello,” said Sgt. Mark Barnes, of the PIPD.
In the vehicle with Smith were her 12-year-old and 13-year-old daughters, said Barnes.
Barnes said Rock was traveling north on the Centerline Rd., while Smith was heading south on Route 10 when the accident occurred.
“Rock did not stop for the stop sign on the Centerline Rd., thus colliding head-on into Smith’s vehicle. Rock was pronounced dead at the scene,” said Barnes.
Crown Ambulance transported Smith and her daughters to The Aroostook Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
“Smith’s daughters were treated for cuts and bruises and later released. Smith was kept overnight for further observation, complaining of pain in her lower back and possible other non-life-threatening injuries,” said Barnes.
Barnes said seatbelts and airbags played an important role in the accident.
“Virginia Smith and her daughters were all wearing seatbelts. However, Catherine Rock was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident. The front airbags deployed in Smith’s 2000 Chevy 1500 pick-up truck and in Rock’s 2003 Chevy Blazer,” explained Barnes.
Responding to the accident from the PIPD, in addition to Barnes, were Officers Lynn Hartley, Peter Johnson and Matt Cummings. Hartley served as lead investigator of the accident. Also responding were the Presque Isle Fire Department’s rescue unit, Maine State Police to do accident reconstruction and Mike Cowett’s Towing Service to remove vehicles from the scene.
