A two-car collision resulted in a car fire near the Route 1 southbound on-ramp in Newcastle the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 11. The occupants of the vehicle that burned, including a dog, were able to exit the vehicle safely and no injuries were reported, according to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jason Nein. (Maia Zewert photo)
A two-car collision resulted in a car fire near the Route 1 southbound on-ramp in Newcastle the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Leigh Tilden, 71, of Damariscotta, was driving a 2012 Subaru station wagon up the on-ramp and was stopped to yield to traffic on Route 1, according to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Katherine Garren, 70, of Damariscotta, was a passenger in the Tilden vehicle.
Teresa Burch, 64, of Damariscotta, was driving a 2005 Mini Cooper behind Tilden’s vehicle, according to the press release.
Burch did not notice Tilden’s vehicle had stopped and struck the back of the Subaru, according to the press release. After the collision, Burch’s Mini Cooper caught fire.
Burch and her dog were able to escape the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames, according to the press release.
The fire was fully involved when Newcastle firefighters arrived on scene, according to Newcastle Fire Chief Clayton Huntley.
Firefighters fought the fire head-on using both water and foam, Huntley said. The fire was extinguished within about two minutes.
All parties were wearing seat belts and no injuries were reported, according to the press release.
The collision disrupted traffic on Route 1 for about an hour. A passerby from Mid-Coast Energy Systems helped direct traffic, which was a big help, Huntley said.
No charges are pending, according to the press release.
