AUGUSTA — Two women are in critical condition following a head-on crash Tuesday morning on a section of Eastern Avenue near Rebecca’s Place restaurant.

Sally Beane, 49, of Manchester, was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

Lucretia Smith, 51, of Rockland, was taken by Augusta Ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, and has since been transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Two helicopters were initially requested, but Augusta Police Sgt. Christian Behr said a brief snow squall prevented a second helicopter from landing at the scene.

Police said Beane, driving a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero, was traveling east, and Smith, driving a 2004 Chevy Cavalier, was traveling west when they collided head-on.

Maine State Police were reconstructing the accident scene and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

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Both drivers, who had to be removed from their cars by firefighters, were the only occupants of their vehicles.

Both vehicles were heavily damaged in the crash, which was just east of the Cony Road.

A section of Eastern Avenue, which is also known as Route 17, between Spring and Cony roads, was closed for more than 90 minutes as emergency personnel responded to the crash that occurred about 9:20 a.m. It was reopened about 11:10 a.m.

This story will be updated.


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