CARRABASSETT VALLEY — A Stratton man died at Maine Medical Center early Monday from injuries received Sunday evening in a two-vehicle accident on Route 27, according to police.

Levi Pooler, 34, was driving north in a 2000 Subaru about 6:40 p.m. when he apparently lost control on slick roads, Carrabassett Valley Police Chief Mark Lopez said. The accident occurred across from Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association at 2068 Carrabassett Drive.

His vehicle skidded sideways into the opposite lane and was struck on the passenger side by a 2011 Subaru driven by Ashley Tempesta, 28, of Portland.

Pooler was taken by a NorthStar ambulance to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington. From there he was taken by medical helicopter to the Portland hospital where he died of his injuries early Monday morning, Lopez said.

The car driven by Tempesta was owned and registered to Malindi Thompson, 28, of Portland who was a back-seat passenger. Casey Berry, 26, of Stratton was a front-seat passenger but was not injured, he said.

Tempesta and Thompson were taken by ambulance to Franklin Memorial Hospital. Tempesta has a broken collarbone and Thompson had a broken arm.

The crash is under investigation, but it appears road and weather conditions were factors. When snow hits the warmer tar it melts quickly and can turn to ice, making it very slick, very quickly, Lopez said.

Carrabassett Valley patrol officer Doug Geis was the first to respond to the accident and Lopez is leading the investigation.

Deputies from Franklin County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene as did Carrabassett Fire Department, he said.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

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