Sat, 12/28/2019 - 5:00am

Sarah Thompson

A car lies on its roof after hitting a utility pole in Friendship. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

The long wait between extrication and arrival of clean-up sources. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

A bulb from the top of the utility pole flew off following crash impact, shattering on the road in front of the crash scene. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Someone’s been crawling on the ground. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

A car lies on its roof after hitting a utility pole in Friendship. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

The long wait between extrication and arrival of clean-up sources. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

A bulb from the top of the utility pole flew off following crash impact, shattering on the road in front of the crash scene. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Someone’s been crawling on the ground. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

UPDATE: On December 28,2019 at approximately 2:43 a.m., Knox Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle rollover, with possible entrapment and serious injury, on the Cushing Road in Friendship. First responders were immediately dispatched to the area, and upon arrival, found a silver, 2007, Pontiac Grand Prix on its roof, with two people trapped inside, and a utility pole, that had been broken off at the base, laying in the roadway.

The operator, Robyn Hyler, 43, of Cushing, was taken to a local hospital for serious injuries and the passenger, Michael McGuire, 50, of Cushing, was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries.

“Deputy Vitaly St. Thomas is still investigating the circumstances around the crash; believes speed and road conditions to be the most significant contributing factors to the crash,” according to a news release from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

The roadway was closed for approximately 5.5 hours for the safety of the public, first responders and utility crews.

Knox County Sheriff’s deputies responded, along with Friendship, Cushing and Waldoboro Fire Departments, Waldoboro Emergency Medical Services, Waldoboro Police Department and Oyster River Towing.

FRIENDSHIP — Two people were rushed to a local hospital with serious-enough appearing injuries for at least one occupant of a motor vehicle accident that firefighters on scene requested the services of a Lifeflight helicopter. However, with LifeFlight grounded due to inclement weather, the occupants of the single-vehicle rollover were transported by ambulance instead.

A portion of Route 97 (Cushing Road) had closed at 2:45 a.m., Dec. 28, after the car, occupied by a male and a female, hit a utility pole and landed on its roof near 377 Cushing Road, in Friendship.

In one aspect of the incident, however, a minimal silver lining developed.

Though electrical wires fell onto the scene, the impact of the crash caused the electrical gear to pop and break, according to Friendship Fire Chief Kevin Benner. Instead of live wires falling onto the car and forcing a delay in extrication efforts of both occupants by 40 minutes – until a Central Maine Power linesman could arrive – Friendship and Waldoboro firefighters initiated the patient-care process immediately.

“We were lucky,” said Benner. “Real lucky.”

The crash was reported to Knox Regional Communications Center by a third party. Responders then drove cautiously to the scene due to the patches of black ice that had formed following a day of rain and freezing rain.

The crash is being investigated by Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Cushing Rescue and a paramedic out of Rockland were also dispatched to the scene. Oyster River hauled the vehicle away. Cushing firefighters rerouted traffic at Wadsworth Point Road.

The Road reopened at 8:20 a.m.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com