Two-Car Accident in Trenton Claims Life of Local Teen
TRENTON—Three Mount Desert Island residents were involved in a fatal two-car collision on the Bar Harbor Road in Trenton, Thursday evening. Gage Johnson, 19, of Mount Desert died at the scene as a result of the injuries from the accident.
According to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, “On January 25, 2024, at approximately 5:57 P.M., Unit #1 operated by Gage Johnson was traveling South on Bar Harbor Road in Trenton at a high rate of speed.”
Johnson’s red 2015 Volkswagen GTI passed another vehicle traveling south, the release says, “and upon reentering the southbound lane, Johnson lost control.”
He tried to overcorrect and regain control. The GTI went into the northbound lane, spun 180 degrees, travelled backward south into the northbound lane and hit a white 2014 Honda Accord driven by Ashley M. Gardner, 28, of Bar Harbor. The GTI then left the road. According to police, speed was determined to be a factor of the crash.
Gardner was transported to Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth for non-life-threatening injuries. Her passenger, Nathaniel L. Gardner, 33, also of Bar Harbor, was also transported. He went to Northern Light Eastern Maine Hospital in Bangor for non-life-threatening injuries. The Accord received substantial front end damage. The GTI received significant rear-end damage.
HCSO’s Sergeant Travis Frost is the primary investigating officer. Deputy Justin Burnett, Deputy Zack Allen, and Lt. Jacob Day of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department assisted on scene. The Maine State Police, Trenton Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department, Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Fire and Ambulance Service all helped at the site. This crash is being reconstructed by Deputy Marcus Downes. The accident shut down the road for a couple of hours on Thursday.