On Friday, Aug. 12, around 5 p.m., an accident on Gardiner Road (Route 27), closed the busy highway for more than an hour and sent five people to area hospitals, according to Wiscasset police.

Pemberton Johnson, 19, of Topsham was headed northbound driving a silver Audi. Near Bog Road, he did a U-turn using a driveway as part of the turn, but much of his car was still in the roadway, police said. The Honda SUV behind him, driven by Robert Pomerleau, 78, of Augusta, had no time to stop. The SUV struck Johnson’s car in the front driver side. Pomerleau’s car bounced off Johnson’s and went across the road and down an embankment, where it hit a parked camper, and then struck a tree. 

The Wiscasset Fire Department responded, and extricated one of the victims from the car, according to a police report.

The passenger of Johnson’s vehicle fled the scene after the accident. His identity is known, but is being withheld by police, according to Chief Jeff Lange.

Pomerleau had three passengers, Joan Pomerleau, 76, of Augusta, Dolly Minitti, 74,and Beverly Mason, 67. Towns of residence were not available for Minitti and Mason. Johnson and all four occupants of Pomerleau’s vehicle were transported by ambulance to area hospitals.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. No charges have been filed.