Lincolnville — A Lincolnville man was taken to Waldo County General Hospital after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a tree and caught fire around noon Dec. 6.

Travis Walauski, 24, of Lincolnville was traveling alone when lost control of his 2002 Saab Aero 95 Sedan while headed north on Belfast Road, according to Lincolnville Police Chief Ron Young. The crash occurred just north of Stan Cilley Road.

Young said Walauski began to go off the road, over corrected, and lost control of the vehicle and hit an apple tree on the opposite side of the road. The car landed in the southbound lane, facing south. Both airbags in the vehicle deployed due to the impact, said Young.

Walauski reported noticing smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle immediately after the crash, the chief said. He was unable to climb out the driver's side door and exited the vehicle through the passenger's side door. Young said that he arrived on the scene within minutes of the crash to find the front end of the Walauski vehicle "fully engulfed" in flames. Walauski was sitting on the grass nearby, Young said.

Walauski was taken by ambulance to Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast for an evaluation after complaining of shoulder pain, Young said.

Lincolnville police, Lincolnville Fire Department and Camden First Aid responded to the crash. Young said Lincolnville Fire Department was especially helpful in managing the blaze.

"Kudos to the fire department, they got there really quickly," Young said.

Speed was "almost definitely" a factor in the cause of the crash, Young said. No charges are pending, he said.

The vehicle was towed by Totman's Enterprises of Belmont and is considered a total loss, said Young.

Courier Publications reporter Jenna Lookner can be reached at 236-8511 or by email at jlookner@courierpublicationsllc.com

Lincolnville firefighters (clockwise from left) Ben Hazen, Mike Eugley and Peter Rollins work to put out a blaze that consumed a 2002 Saab following a single-vehicle crash on Dec. 6. (Photo by: Jenna Lookner)

Lincolnville firefighters hose down a 2002 Saab Aero 95 that caught fire after a single-vehicle crash on Dec. 6. (Photo by: Jenna Lookner)

Lincolnville engines one and five on the scene of a car crash on Dec. 6. The 2002 Saab involved in the crash erupted in flames after the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree. (Photo by: Jenna Lookner)

Lincolnville firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in a car that crashed into a tree and caught fire on Dec. 6. (Photo by: Jenna Lookner)

A 2002 Saab Aero 95 is nearly unrecognizable after being consumed by flames following a single-vehicle crash in Lincolnville Dec. 6. (Photo by: Jenna Lookner)