We reported earlier today about a crash on Route 17 in Augusta near Rebecca's Restaurant that shut down traffic in both directions for a while. The names of the people involved in the crash have been released by authorities. 

Life-Flight helicopters were needed for the head-on crash that occurred after 9 AM. The Augusta Police and Fire Departments responded to the collision just east of Cony Road. Sally Beane (49) of Manchester was traveling east as Lucretia Smith (51) from Rockland was traveling west when the crash occurred. Both vehicles were only occupied by the drivers and each one had to be extricated from their vehicle by Firefighters.

One helicopter took Beane to Central Maine Medical Center. The other helicopter could not make it due to weather, and Smith was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Both drivers are in critical condition. The crash is being reconstructed by Maine State Police and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

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