
A woman was killed Sunday after her car veered off Gorden Road in Readfield and hit a tree, which police said happened minutes after the driver was apparently involved in another crash in Belgrade.
Martha Shellman, 43, died at the scene of the single-vehicle crash, near the intersection of Gorden and Scribner Hill roads in Readfield, according to Shannon Moss, public information officer for Maine Department of Public Safety.
Shellman was identified as a Maine woman, although police said Monday they could not yet confirm where she lived.
Shellman was southbound in a 2012 Dodge Journey SUV on Gorden Road when she crossed the centerline, went off the road and crashed into a tree, Moss said in a statement released to the news media.
Shellman is believed to have been involved in another crash minutes earlier in Belgrade. Moss said the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office is investigating that crash.
Lt. Chris Read of the Sheriff’s Office confirmed his office is investigating the Belgrade crash, but said Monday the report did not yet have additional details and the crash was still under investigation.
The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office log indicates there was a crash with property damage only, meaning no injuries were reported, at 2:49 p.m. Sunday on Manchester Road in Belgrade.
Both Gorden Road and Manchester Road are part of state Route 135.
Moss said speed and alcohol were considered factors in the fatal crash, but police were still investigating. Shellman was wearing a seat belt.
The Readfield crash was reported at about 3 p.m. Sunday, and police called for extrication equipment to remove the driver from the vehicle.
The Sheriff’s Office, Readfield Fire and Winthrop Rescue also responded to the fatal crash.
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