PORT CLYDE — Rockland, South Thomaston, St. George and Thomaston ambulances were called to Port Clyde, where a crash involving a handful of pedestrians and multiple vehicles on the pier occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m., Aug. 11. One child, a 9-year-old boy, died in the crash.

Monday morning report

Knox County Sheriff’s Department issued the following update at 10 a.m. this morning, Aug. 12:

“The operator of the vehicle that lost control is 61-year-old Cheryl Torgerson of New York City.

“The pedestrian that was struck near the Monhegan Boat Landing building is 68-year-old Jonathan Coggeshall of Port Clyde. [He is] still at Pen Bay Medical Center.”

According to Chief Deputy Tim Carroll, the Sheriff’s Office is still withholding names of the other victims at the father's request, as he has not been able to contact all family members yet. Carroll said the 6-year-old child is stable and the mother is in surgery at this time. He said the family is from Massachusetts.

Sunday night report

Knox County Sheriff’s Department issued the following release at 8 p.m., Aug. 11:

“At approximately 2:45 p.m this afternoon, Knox County Sheriff’s Office was called to a multiple vehicle and pedestrian crash at Monhegan Boat Landing in Port Clyde. 

“Upon arrival, Sgt. Palmer found that an operator of a vehicle for an unknown reason at this time lost control of her vehicle and crashed into one vehicle, continued accelerating and then crashed into a corner of a building that had a pedestrian standing by it.  The pedestrian was struck and pushed against the building owned by Monhegan Boat Lines.  The vehicle continued travelling down the wharf at Monhegan Boat and struck 6 additional parked cars as well as a family of four walking on the wharf. 

“One of the family members, a 9 year-old boy was killed in the crash and two other family members have been LifeFlighted to a hospital in Portland. 

“Names are being withheld pending investigation and notification of family members. 

“St. George Fire/EMS, South Thomaston Fire/Ambulance and Rockland Fire/EMS were the medical professionals that responded to the scene and assisted by Lifeflight of Maine.”

Earlier report

One witness, who declined to be identified, but who lives nearby, said that she heard a loud boom. She ran to the window and saw one car careen off several other cars.

The scene has been cordoned off. Maine State Police, Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison, sheriff’s deputies, and Maine State Marine Patrol are all on the wharf investigating the scene. The State Police Accident Reconstruction department along with Knox County Sheriff’s department are still on the scene hours after the accident.

Dick Nixon, an off-duty emergency medical responder, said that he estimated five to seven cars were damaged in the crash.

Knox County Chief Deputy Tim Carroll comfirmed by telephone that seven cars were involved, as well as a Monhegan Boat Line building. There were also three adults and two children who were hit in the accident. All were transported to local hospitals with the exception of two, who were taken by Lifeflight of Maine helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland. There is not yet more information on who the injured are.

The accident occured at the Monhegan Boat Line wharf. Apparently, according to Carroll and the reports they have from witnesses, one car, out of control and at an accelorated speed, went down the hill toward the harbor, and crashed into a building and seven other parked cars while also striking five pedestrians.

The last two cars that were hit appeared to be totally demolished, according to Nixon.

This story will be updated as more details become available.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.