By Ward Peck

Editor

    A single car accident on Shore Road killed a
17-year-old Cape Elizabeth High School student and injured her
passenger on Sunday night.

    Rachel McCarthy of Cape Elizabeth was killed as a
result of injuries she sustained when her 2000 Chevrolet Blazer crossed
the centerline of Shore Road near Chimney Rock between Delano Park and
the entrance to Robinson’s woods. The vehicle, traveling south, struck
a tree and stone wall on the northbound shoulder. Police responded to a
report of an accident at approximately 7:55 p.m., roughly a half-hour
after sunset.

    While the area was under the threat of a large storm
that ravaged the region, Cape Elizabeth Police Captain Brent Sinclair
said at that point most of the damage and flooding caused by the storm
had yet to occur.

    Sinclair said McCarthy was partially ejected from
the vehicle and suffered multiple traumas. She was transported from the
scene to Maine Medical Center where she died.

    Her passenger, Anthony Wells, also 17 years-old and
a CEHS student was transported to MMC with non-life threatening
injuries and was later released.

    As of press time, the accident was still under
investigation and the cause or causes of the accident were unknown.
According to Sinclair, it had not been determined whether McCarthy was
wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident. Investigators were
awaiting a toxicology report to help them determine if alcohol or other
substances may have been a factor in the accident. Sinclair said he did
not know when the investigation would be completed. An initial accident
investigation determined McCarthy lost control at a point where the
road crests a hill and curves, according to Sinclair. The posted speed
limit on that section of road is 30 mph.

    South Portland Police Accident Investigator Ken
Cronin is assisting the Cape Elizabeth Police Department in the
investigation.

    The accident occurred as children in the Cape
Elizabeth School District were to begin their week long April vacation.
The Sentry could not reach School Supt. Alan Hawkins, who was out of
the office on Wednesday morning.