An Oakland woman was in critical condition at a Lewiston hospital following a head-on collision Wednesday on Route 137 in Winslow.
Karen Beaulieu, 40, was taken to Central Maine Medical Center by LifeFlight helicopter around 5 p.m. Wednesday with severe injuries after the 1989 626 Mazda sedan she was driving crashed head-on with a 1997 Mack truck driven by David Greene, 55, of Plymouth, according to Winslow police Officer Brandon Lund, who was the first officer on the scene.
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A hospital spokeswoman did not return three calls Thursday seeking information about Beaulieu’s condition, but Lund said she was still in critical condition.
The Mazda was traveling west and the truck east, toward China, at the time of the crash, Lund said.
He said it appears the Mazda drifted over the center line and struck the dump truck head-on. An accident reconstruction report by Winslow police and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office is not expected to be finished for another 30 days, he said.
Police do not know why the car may have drifted over the center line. Lund said police found Beaulieu’s cellphone in her pocketbook after the accident.
The truck was carrying a full load of asphalt at the time of the accident, which was reported to police at 3:31 p.m..
Lund said he arrived at the scene to find Beaulieu trapped inside the car, which was in a ditch. Beaulieu was conscious and able to communicate.
“I just kept talking to her and let her know rescue was on its way and would be there soon,” Lund said.
The Mazda was destroyed and the front left side of the truck was damaged so significantly that it could not be driven, he said. Greene, however, was not injured.
Route 137, China Road in Winslow, was closed to traffic from 3:38 p.m. to 8 p.m. and traffic was re-routed to Nowell and Maple Ridge roads, as well as North and South Reynolds roads.
State police and Kennebec County sheriff’s officials helped Winslow police at accident scene, which was about three miles from Cumberland Farms in Winslow.
Beaulieu’s boyfriend, Doug Hanson, said Thursday that isn’t sure what happened. He wasn’t able to visit her in the hospital until Thursday afternoon because they now have no car.
“She’s a mother with three kids.,” he said. “We’re getting married in November.”
Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
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