A 78-year-old woman was taken to Northern Light Mercy Hospital after driving the wrong way on Interstate 295 Monday morning.
The driver was reported to Bangor dispatchers at around 11:50 a.m., according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss. The driver was reportedly northbound in the southbound lanes of I-295 between mile marker 7 and 8 in Portland.
While local troopers were called to investigate, the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser was spotted traveling the wrong way by Yarmouth Rescue, and the ambulance turned around to try to get the driver’s attention. The PT Cruiser driver, a Westbrook woman, then tried to back up when she noticed the ambulance, Moss said.
A state police trooper was then able to pull up to the driver with emergency lights on, and the wrong-way driver stopped the vehicle. The trooper was then able to put the PT Cruiser in park, and obtain the keys.
According to Moss, the woman reported that she had been trying to get to Mercy Hospital, and appeared to have experienced a medical event.
The woman was transported to the hospital by the Yarmouth Rescue ambulance. Her vehicle was towed from the scene.
