AUGUSTA — A 54-year-old Fairfield woman suffered serious injuries in a three-vehicle pileup that shut down northbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Augusta around noon, and slowed traffic for several hours.

Katrina Heald-Richards was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, but her condition was not immediately available.

Additional Images

Traffic backs up on Interstate 95 northbound after a collision temporarily closed the highway Thursday. Maine Public Safety Department photo

This photo taken from a Maine State Police plane shows the crash scene on Interstate 95 northbound on Thursday. Maine Public Safety Department photo

Two other people suffered minor injuries in the crash that occurred just north of exit 113.

The accident unfolded after Sherwood Kemp, 55, of Leeds, slowed his dump truck because of a vehicle fire in the breakdown lane, Maine State Police Lt. Aaron Hayden.

Heald-Richards, driving a late-model Toyota behind Kemp, slowed as well, and her vehicle was hit in the rear by a Jeep Cherokee driven by Nichole Pilla, 27, of Oakland. That pushed Heald-Richards’ vehicle into the back of the dump truck, trapping her in the car, according to Hayden.

Kemp and Pilla were treated for injuries at the scene.

Hayden said the crash investigation continues under the direction of Trooper Michael Pion.

Northbound traffic on the Interstate was backed up for about two hours following the crash, and after northbound traffic was briefly shut down, a breakdown lane was opened for vehicles to get around the crash site.

Augusta Fire Battalion Chief Scott Dunbar said fire crews were originally called to a report of a van fire at mile marker 115, which required them to shut down the interstate to fight that fire. Then, about 20 minutes later, they got another call for the accident.

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