OWLS HEAD — The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said speed and alcohol are likely contributing causes to a car crash early Saturday morning in which a woman was injured after her vehicle nearly struck a cruiser on routine patrol.

The driver, Haley Watkinson, 27, of Owls Head was the single occupant of the vehicle and was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport by Rockland Emergency Medical Services with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Knox County Chief Deputy Tim Carroll.

According to the chief deputy, Sgt. James Moore was travelling west in his cruiser on North Shore Drive. As he crested a hill, he had to avoid a car travelling in the opposite direction that was in his lane. The sergeant said it appeared the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed and was out of control. The vehicle passed by him, and in his rear view mirror he could see that it appeared the vehicle was skidding sideways as he lost sight of it.

Moore immediately turned around and found the vehicle on its side between two trees on the side of the road near the intersection of Weeks Road and North Shore Drive. Watkinson was injured and trapped in the car.

Assistant Chief Adam Miceli of the Rockland Fire Department said that emergency crews responded to the scene of the accident at about 12:30 a.m.

“They were able to extricate her without actually cutting the vehicle,” Miceli, who was not at the scene, said later Saturday morning.

Miceli did not specify the type of injuries Watkinson suffered.

Rockland Fire and EMS, the Owls Head Fire Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The crash is still under investigation and police believe that speed and alcohol were contributing factors, Carroll said.