WATERVILLE — At least three people were injured Sunday in a six-car accident on College Avenue directly in front of the fire station.

About 4:45 p.m., a driver moving at a high rate of speed slammed into five vehicles that were waiting for the light to turn green at the intersection of College Avenue and Main Street, according to witnesses.

Results of a police investigation of the crash were not immediately available.

Deanne Gage and passenger Bob Woodsome, of Fairfield, had just driven through the intersection and were traveling north on College Avenue when they saw a blue Suzuki SUV driven by an unknown person blow past them heading south toward the intersection at what they estimated to be 70 to 80 mph.

“It was going very, very fast,” Woodsome said. “It was a blur.”

Troy Ladd also was driving north when the Suzuki passed him. He said the driver, whom he described as a middle-aged woman, seemed purposeful in her actions.

“She had a determined look in her eyes and a firm grip on the steering wheel,” Ladd said. “You could hear the engine roar as she passed. She was still gaining speed and there were no brake lights.”

Yvonne Dutil said she was waiting to cross the street from Ken-A-Set to go to Rite-Aid when she saw the Suzuki approaching. She knew an accident was imminent.

“My heart was in my throat,” she said.

Eriq Stewart was one of the drivers waiting at the intersection. He said the Suzuki struck his truck and the vehicle next to him, which was totaled. The Suzuki went airborne, flipped and spun across about 40 feet before slamming into the rear bumpers of two cars waiting at the light. One of those cars was pushed forward and struck a sixth vehicle, pushing it into the intersection.

Mike Kalageros said he was walking on Union Street when he heard the sounds of shattering glass and screams. Next he saw a cloud of smoke.

The Fire Department responded within seconds, he said.

Updates will be posted as they become available.

Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com

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