LEWISTON — A 42-year-old Norway woman who was seriously injured in a head-on car crash Friday night has had her condition upgraded from critical to fair at Central Maine Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson said Monday.

According to police reports, Jennifer Clough was driving her 2005 Hyundai Elantra east on Route 118 just before Watson Road at approximately 11:20 p.m., when her vehicle has struck by a 2003 Nissan 350Z operated by William Stella, 36, of Stoneham, Mass.

Stella, at the time of the crash, had been evading pursuit by Oxford County Sheriff Deputy Cpl. Christopher Davis. The officer had been using emergency lights and siren during the chase, according to police.

Stella had turned off his car lights and had been driving in the oncoming traffic lane, according to police.

The crash caused both cars to erupt in flames. Davis and Norway police officer Brandon Correia were able to get Clough out of her car. She was taken by LifeFlight to CMMC.

Stella did not survive the crash. The fire was so intense that the emergency responders were unable to approach Stella’s car.

Davis had begun pursuing the Stella vehicle in South Paris after he noticed the car being driven aggressively and at a high rate of speed.

Oxford County deputies had just called off the pursuit, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release, when the fleeing vehicle crashed into Clough’s car.

According to the release, the incident began at Crazy 8’s in Paris where Stella had an altercation with staff at the bar because they refused to allow him into the premises. A family member was called to pick up Stella, but he refused to leave with them. He became highly agitated and fled the scene, police said.

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