October 19, 2012

Car crash topples Riverside headstones

BY CRAIG CROSBY Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- A South Portland woman escaped serious injury Thursday when her car went out of control at the Riverside Cemetery and crashed into several headstones.

Patricia Higgins, 66, was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center for what were believed to be non life-threatening injuries, said Augusta Police Lt. Christopher Massey.

Massey said the early accident report reported Higgins was driving a 2002 Toyota Camry east through the cemetery, which is off Bangor Street, when the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. Higgins told police, "the vehicle just took off."

The Toyota went down a steep embankment and hit several headstones before coming to a stop, Massey said.

A passenger was in Higgins car, but the person's identity was not available. The Camry sustained front end damage, according to the report.

Massey said no charges are anticipated in connection with the crash.

Leif Dahlin, community services director for the city, hadn't surveyed the cemetery damage Thursday night. He said city officials will file claims with the driver's insurance company to fix the damaged gravesites. How long it takes to repair the stones will depend on the extent of the damage, he said.

Riverside Cemetery is one of 18 cemeteries maintained by the city, Dahlin said. Many of the stones date to the 1800s.

"It's one of our earlier cemeteries," Dahlin said.

Craig Crosby -- 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

 

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