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Moose Charges Out of Woods, Hits Car

September 26, 2011 - New Sharon -- A Stratton woman was in fair condition at the hospital Thursday after a bull moose charged out of the woods and collided with her car the previous night on Route 27.

Jean Gutman, 68, was flown to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with serious head injuries from the crash, Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Chase said. She was in fair condition Thursday around noon, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Gutman was heading south toward Belgrade about 6:20 p.m. when the moose ran onto the highway in front of her 2010 Subaru hatchback, Chase said.

"The animal was coming out of the woods so fast that she didn't stand a chance," he said.

The moose smashed into the car, pushed onto the hood before crashing into the windshield and partially peeling back the roof, Chase said. Her passenger in the car, Hugh Verrier, 79, of Starks, was uninjured.

There is a history of moose and animal crashes along the stretch of highway, known locally as Mile Hill Road, where heavy tree growth and bushes line the roadside, Chase said. He didn't know how many crashes have happened at the same spot.

Chase estimated the moose weighed at least 750 pounds, and the carcass was taken to D.E.W. Animal Kingdom and Sanctuary in Mount Vernon as feed for animals.

Chase described the collision as unavoidable and caused simply by the moose running out of the woods on a road with a 55 mph speed limit. Gutman and Verrier were wearing seatbelts and speed and alcohol were not factors, he said.

Gutman was taken by NorthStar ambulance service to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, before she was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to the Lewiston hospital. New Sharon Fire Department assisted at the scene.

David Robinson, Kennebec Journal, September 2011


Lakes:
Regions: Belgrade


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