Maine lawmaker injured in car crash on way to Augusta
Jun. 9—A Maine lawmaker on her way to Augusta was injured in a car crash last week that left her hospitalized. And a complication after surgery left her in intensive care, according to a fundraising appeal.
Rep. Holly Eaton, D-Deer Isle, was driving on Caterpillar Hill Road in Sedgwick on the morning of June 2 when she failed to stop and collided with an SUV that was stopped in front of her waiting for another vehicle to turn left, according to a crash report from the Hancock County Sheriff's Department.
Eaton said in a Facebook post the next day that she had a burst fracture in one of her vertebra and was in a lot of pain but had settled into a room at a Bangor hospital. She had been on her way to Augusta when the crash occurred and had tried to avoid hitting the other vehicle, the post said.
A lieutenant for the sheriff's department said Monday that no charges have been filed and no other injuries were reported in the crash.
"Thank you to everyone who has reached out with texts, calls, emails — and thank you especially for the balloons and flowers," Eaton said in her post.
A GoFundMe page that has been set up to raise money for Eaton's recovery said she had spinal surgery Wednesday that went well. But on Friday she collapsed from a pulmonary embolism while in physical therapy and had to be transferred by LifeFlight helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland.
"She is currently still in the ICU and will be for at least a few more days," says the page, which was started over the weekend. As of Monday, it had raised more than $14,800.
Eaton represents House District 15, which contains several communities in Hancock County, and is in her second term in the House of Representatives. She serves on the marine resources and transportation committees.
A voicemail message and email left for Eaton Monday seeking an update on her condition were not returned. A spokesperson for House Democrats said he was unable to provide any update, citing Eaton's privacy.
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