KNOX — Two people were treated for hypothermia following a single vehicle crash on Route 139, Dec. 11.

The driver of a 2005 Suzuki was traveling near the intersection with Baileyville Road when she lost control of the vehicle due to wintery conditions that left the road covered in ice and slush. 

Deputy Cassandra McDonald, of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene, where she learned the vehicle crossed the centerline before leaving the roadway on the right side and rolling over into a small pond. 

Both the driver, of Highland Plantation, and the passenger were wearing seatbelts and were able to escape the vehicle. The two were transported to Waldo County General for treatment and later released.

Speed is considered a contributing factor in the accident, according to an accident report.

The speed limit near the crash site is 50 mph, though reduced speeds are advised when wintery conditions leave the roadways potentially treacherous.

The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Two other drivers were also left in need of assistance following the recent snowfall after their separate, unrelated single-vehicle accidents were both attributed to wintery road conditions.

A motorist involved in an accident on North Horseback Road in Burnham Dec. 10, said that slush had pulled the a 1997 Chevrolet, off the road, causing the vehicle to roll over once before landing on its roof. The driver was uninjured in the crash and the vehicle sustained functional damage. 

Another driver, heading south on North Palermo Road in Palermo, also blamed slushy conditions for their single vehicle accident Dec. 11. The driver stated they moved over to the far right in their lane to make room for an oncoming truck when the crash occurred. The driver stated the propane truck was slightly over the centerline as it approached, though responding deputies were unable to confirm the involvement of a second vehicle. Failure to reduce speeds for road conditions is considered a factor in the crash.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommends reducing speeds by 50 percent when roads are snow packed and proceeding with caution when traveling over potentially slick or icy roads. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com