Rochester man, infant hurt in Route 202 crash

Some trees struck while the car was airborne fell on the vehicle after it came to a rest. (Lebanon Rescue photo)

LEBANON - A Rochester man and his infant passenger were both injured on Wednesday after their car struck a culvert off Route 202 while attempting to avoid a deer, went airborne and struck a tree head-on as smaller trees fell on the vehicle.

Assistant Rescue Chief Jason Cole was first on scene and actually witnessed the end of the accident, which occurred about 4:45 p.m.

"A Ford Taurus was traveling west on Carl Broggi Highway when the driver stated he tried to avoid a deer in the road. The vehicle went off the road and struck a culvert at the intersection of Stokewood Drive. The vehicle then went airborne for approximately 100 feet before striking a tree head-on. The vehicle also hit several small trees while airborne, and they came to rest on top of the vehicle. I was traveling east on Carl Broggi Highway and saw the vehicle airborne just prior to striking the tree," Cole reported in a Lebanon Rescue press release.

The two occupants of the car, a 33-year-old male from Rochester, N.H., and a 1-year-old infant male also from Rochester, were transported by Lebanon ambulance to Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester with what are believed to be nonlife-threatening injuries, the press release stated..

The Ford Taurus was totaled in the accident. 

Carl Broggi Highway was closed to one lane while emergency crews worked at the scene until 5:45 p.m. when the vehicle was removed and traffic was reopened in both lanes.

The accident is being investigated by the Maine State Police.