On Monday, November 4, 2024, at approximately 11:50 am., the Bangor Regional Communications Center started taking calls of a wrong-way driver going northbound in the southbound lanes of I-295 in the city of Portland between exits 7 and 8.  Troopers from Troop 1 began responding to the area.

Yarmouth Rescue was traveling northbound at the time and saw the 2008 Chevrolet PT going the wrong-way.  The ambulance turned around to try to get the driver’s attention. The driver positioned the ambulance at an  angle on I-295 to block the wrong-way vehicle.  The driver of the wrong-way vehicle began backing up when she saw the ambulance had stopped up ahead of her. A Trooper pulled up to the wrong-way vehicle with its cruiser’s emergency lights on and the driver stopped.  The Trooper was able to put the vehicle in park and get the keys from the driver according to Shannon Moss, Public Information Officer for Maine’s Office of Public Safety in Augusta.

The driver was a 78-year old female from Westbrook who appeared to be having a medical event.  She was initially trying to get to Mercy Hospital, so  Yarmouth Rescue Transported her there.

The  vehicle was towed from the scene.

Portland Police assisted at the scene.