August 2021

# of School Visits conducted – 0

# of OUI Alcohol Arrests – 1

# of OUI Drug Arrests – 0

# of DV Arrests – 0

07-26-21

Trooper Owen Reed summonsed Jason French (49) of Sullivan, for Operating After Suspension after a traffic stop in Franklin.  A passenger in that vehicle, Nicole Sargent (34) of Sullivan, was arrested for Aggravated Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs.  Corporal Jeff Taylor, Trooper Josh Lander and Trooper Jarid Leonard assisted.

Trooper Keith York responded to Grand Lake Stream for a theft complaint where a catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle during the day.  Investigation continues.

Trooper Jarid Leonard summonsed Pasquale Paganucci (46) of Franklin, for Illegal Attachment of Plates after a traffic stop in Hancock.  Corporal Jeff Taylor assisted.

07-28-21

Trooper Kim Sawyer in investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred on Route 9 in Crawford. The accident involved a tractor trailer and a passenger vehicle striking head on. Deceased in the passenger vehicle was Bruce Pierce (63) of Calais.

07-30-21

Trooper Josh Lander responded to a crash in Amherst where a vehicle had driven off a 40-foot embankment in a construction area.  As a result of the investigation the operator, David Maher (62) of Maryland, was summonsed for Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and transported to a local hospital by EMS for his injuries.  Trooper Owen Reed and Trooper Taylor Dube assisted at the scene. 

On 07/26/2021, Cpl. Cote stopped Ronald Pierson (51) of Westbrook on Main Street in Gray.  He was found to have an active Warrant out of Cumberland County for failing to appear in court on several motor vehicle charges.  He was arrested and taken to the Cumblerland County Jail.

On 07/27/2021, Cpl. Cropper stopped Casey Gervais (20) of Canton, MA for criminal speed in Wells. Gervais was summonsed for 108/70.

On 07/29/2021, Tr. Reaser observed erratic operation of a vehicle in a construction zone SB near MM 32 and began pursuit. Cpl. Physic and Tr. Bourdelais were in the immediate area and joined the pursuit shortly after. The pursuit lasted several miles and ended in the Kennebunk service plaza. A high-risk stop was performed, and the operator later identified as Alexis Acosta (33) of California was placed under arrest for refusing to stop for law enforcement. Upon further investigation, it was determined Acosta was under the influence of alcohol as a result of intoxilyzer testing and charged accordingly. 

On 07/29/2021, Cpl. Physic was in the town of Biddeford heading to I-95 when he saw a vehicle driving consistently in the wrong lane.  Cpl. Physic made contact with the driver, Linda Laverriere (62), who was ultimately arrested for OUI.  Linda took an intoxilyzer test and blew over the legal limit. Linda was charged with OUI.

On 07/31/2021, Sgt. Wilkinson, Tr. Welch, and Tr. Davis received 2 complaints on an erratic operation that was northbound on the Turnpike. The vehicle stopped at the Gray Service Plaza. Contact was made with the male operator who was subsequently put through SFSTs and arrested for OUI. Blood was drawn and results are pending. 

On 08/01/2021, Tr. Darcy stopped a vehicle traveling 103 MPH southbound on the Turnpike in Wells. The 21-year-old female was issued a VSAC for the speed.

Incident Type:         warrant arrest

Date:                          8/01/2021

Town:                        Bridgewater

Trooper:                   Tr. Cotton

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Cotton stopped a vehicle in Bridgewater for an expired inspection sticker and a vehicle defect.  Tr. Cotton identified the operator as a local woman and discovered that she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest for failing to appear on multiple charges.  Arrangements were made for the vehicle to be secured at another location and then the operator was arrested and transported to the State Police Barracks where she was able to post bail on her warrant and was later released. 

Incident Type:         Improper Plates

Date:                          8/01/2021

Town:                        Fort kent

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin stopped a vehicle in Fort Kent after a registration check revealed that the license plates on the vehicle belonged on a different vehicle.  Once the stop was made, Tr. Martin learned that a local woman had falsely attached the plates from another vehicle.  She was cited to FK District Court for the registration violation and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

Incident Type:         Fraud

Date:                          7/28/2021

Town:                        Van Buren

Trooper:                   Tr. Levesque

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Levesque met with a Van Buren resident after she reported fraudulent use of her credit card.  The woman was working with her bank in order to rectify the situation and the investigation is ongoing.

 

Incident Type:         TRAINING

Date:                          7/26/2021

Town:                        Augusta

Trooper:                   tr. curtin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Curtin attended a weeklong training as part of the Evidence Response Team. 

 

Incident Type:         ACCIDENT

Date:                          7/27/2021

Town:                        mapleton

Trooper:                   Tr. mahon

Brief Synopsis:       At approximately 1:00 AM State Police received a report of a motor vehicle crash on Route 163 in Mapleton.  Tr. Andrew Levesque and Tr. Steven Mahon responded and determined the following from their investigation.  An International flat-bed wrecker was hauling a 2007 GMC pickup traveling West on Route 163 when the wrecker left the roadway striking an embankment and coming to rest in the ditch.  The cab and engine compartment of the wrecker was burned completely.  The GMC pickup flew off the flatbed and rolled over into the roadway coming to rest on its side blocking both lanes of traffic.  Neither of the vehicles had registration plates.  The driver of the wrecker fled the scene and was likely injured.  The crash remains under investigation by Tr. Mahon.

 

Incident Type:         BURGLARY

Date:                          7/29/2021

Town:                        fort fairfield

Trooper:                   Tr. mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Mahon responded to a vacant house after the caretaker for the property discovered it had been broken into.  Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing. 

 

Incident Type:         THEFT

Date:                          7/30/2021

Town:                        oakfield

Trooper:                   tr. saucier

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Saucier took a theft report from a camp in Oakfield.  The caller reported someone had stolen a 100-pound Dead River tank with regulator.  The investigation is ongoing. 

 

Incident Type:         ACCIDENT - FATAL

Date:                          7/30/2021

Town:                        littleton

Trooper:                   tr. merchant, Tr. Mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Laney Merchant and FTO Tr. Mahon responded to Rt 1 in Littleton for a report of a multi vehicle crash with injury involving a van, a passenger car, and a tractor trailer unit.  A 2005 Dodge van, operated by Robert Havrin, age 65 of Lake Bluff, Illinois was southbound on Rt 1 when it drifted onto the shoulder of the road, striking a guardrail, and veering across the road into the path of a northbound tractor trailer.  The tractor trailer was a 2020 Freightliner owned by Ascent Trucking and operated by Bruce Hanning, age 67 of Houlton.  Hanning could not avoid Havrin’s vehicle and they collided head on in the northbound lane of Rt 1.  The tractor trailer continued on, jackknifing in the roadway and there was a secondary crash involving a 2014 Subaru passenger car that was traveling southbound on Rt 1.  The Subaru was operated by Staci Merritt, age 30 of Hodgdon and Merritt could not avoid striking the rear of the tractor unit. Merritt sustained minor injuries and was transported to Houlton Regional Hospital where she was treated and released.  Hanning was not injured in the crash Havrin suffered serious injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Tr. Merchant was assisted by Lt. Harris, Tr. Saucier, Tr. Sylvia and personnel from Houlton and Littleton Fire Depts, Houlton Ambulance, Maine DOT, and DEP.  Rt 1 was shut down to all traffic for approximately 8 hours while the investigation was conducted. 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.

A Caribou man was killed in early morning crash on the Turnpike in Kittery. 

Maine State Police is investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at approximately 12:37 a.m. on the ME Turnpike. The crash, involving a passenger car and a tractor-trailer truck occurred southbound at mile 2 in Kittery by the Wilson Road overpass. 29-year-old Caleb Ewing of Caribou, the driver of the car died at the scene. The tractor-trailer, owned and operated by 46-year-old Joshua Stone of Auburn was uninjured. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. 

It is believed that Ewing entered onto the turnpike in Kittery and traveled in the wrong direction going northbound in the southbound lane. Stone and his tractor-trailer truck, which was hauling bottled water at the time, were traveling southbound and took evasive action upon spotting Ewing, but could not avoid the collision. Ewing struck the side of the tractor-trailer truck rupturing the fuel tank which caused diesel fuel to spill out onto the roadway.

The turnpike was shut down to one lane for hours while police investigated and crews worked to remove the vehicles and re-open the roadway. Assisting in the investigation were MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the Kittery Fire Department, Kittery Police Department, York Police and Fire Departments, the DEP, and National Wrecker Service.

The investigation is ongoing. It is unclear at this time if speed and alcohol were contributing factors. 
 

# of School Visits conducted – 0

# of OUI Alcohol Arrests – 1

# of OUI Drug Arrests – 0

# of DV Arrests – 1

08-02-21

Trooper Keith York summonsed Jon Moore (27) of Topsfield, for Operating After Suspension after a traffic stop in Topsfield.

08-05-21

Trooper Jarid Leonard responded to a late report of a Personal Injury crash on Rt. 1 in Township 7. Nathan Grant (44) of Blue Hill, crashed his vehicle.  Nathan was summonsed for Leaving the Scene of a Crash.

08-08-21

Trooper Owen Reed arrested Joshua Hendrixson (32) of Stonington, for Eluding an Officer after he rode a motorcycle by Trooper Reed at a high rate of speed and in an erratic manner in Blue Hill.  Hendrixson was also charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Violation of Conditional Release and Aggravated Operating a Motor Vehicle After Revocation.  Sergeant Daniel Ryan assisted.

 

Incident Type:         ASSIST OTHER AGENCY

Date:                          8/6/2021

Town:                        PRESQUE iSLE

Trooper:                   TR. RIDER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Rider overheard radio traffic from PIPD of an altercation at an apartment building where a man had brandished a firearm.  Tr. Rider responded to the call with PIPD officers.  The men had been drinking and an argument started over rent money.  The men were separated for the night and the roommate stated he was moving back to Bangor.  No charges were filed. 

 

Incident Type:         ARREST - OTHER

Date:                          8/5/2021

Town:                        van buren

Trooper:                   TR. DESROSIER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Desrosier was conducting traffic enforcement in the town of Van Buren when he stopped a vehicle for a speeding infraction.  Tr. Desrosier observed alcohol in the back seat of the vehicle.  The operator was only 19 years of age and stated that the alcohol was from a recent camping trip.  Tr. Desrosier seized the alcohol and issued a summons for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

 

Incident Type:         OUI

Date:                          8/5/2021

Town:                        Van Buren

Trooper:                   TR. DESROSIER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Desrosier was conducting traffic enforcement in the town of Van Buren when he stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction.  Tr. Desrosiers’s investigation led him to believe that the operator was under the influence of alcohol.  Once Tr. Desrosier was finished with his investigation, the man was arrested for OUI.  The man was released on bail with a court date. 

 

Incident Type:         DRUGS

Date:                          8/6/2021

Town:                        frenchville

Trooper:                   TR. DESROSIER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Desrosier was conducting traffic enforcement in the town of Frenchville when he stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction.  Tr. Desrosier was able to smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle.  The operator was under the age of 21 years old.  Tr. Desrosier located and seized marijuana and its variants from the car.  Tr. Desrosier issued a summons to the driver.  

 

Incident Type:         OUI

Date:                          8/6/2021

Town:                        smyrna

Trooper:                   TR. CASTONGUAY

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Castonguay was conducting rural patrol near the town of Smyrna when he received a traffic complaint from a neighbor reporting a vehicle that was operating in an erratic manner.  Tr. Castonguay met the vehicle and observed the vehicle make a bad pass and was not staying in their travel lane.  Tr. Castonguay stopped the vehicle and once his investigation was completed, arrested the operator for OUI.  The operator was released on bail with a court date.  

 

Incident Type:         PUBLIC RELATIONS

Date:                          8/7/2021

Town:                        Littleton

Trooper:                   TR. KILCOLLINS / CPL. QUINT

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Kilcollins attended a Touch a Truck event in the town of Littleton who were raising funds to update their town playground and ball field.  Cpl. Quint, who was on vacation, lent the town a hand with being the “fun police”.  Eventually people in town grew tired of being harassed by Cpl. Quint and collected enough money to have him arrested.   

 

 

 

 

Incident Type:         OAS

Date:                          8/02/2021

Town:                        Cross Lake

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin stopped a vehicle on 161 in Cross Lake for a motor vehicle defect.  As he conducted his roadside investigation, he learned that the operator’s license was currently suspended for not paying a fine.  A passenger in the vehicle also had a suspended license and was not able to drive.  Tr. Martin worked with the operator and a licensed driver was located and able to drive the vehicle for the owner.  She was cited for the violation.

 

Incident Type:         Theft

Date:                          8/04/2021

Town:                        Portage Lake

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin took a report of a stolen heavy equipment trailer in Portage Lake.  The trailer had been used by a local contractor to move heavy equipment in the area and had been left unattended in an area  where logging equipment is commonly stored.  The investigation is ongoing, and the trailer has been entered into a national database of stolen property.

 

Incident Type:         PI Crash / D/V Assault

Date:                          8/07/2021

Town:                        Wallagrass

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin and Tr. Levesque as well as Recruit Roy responded to the report of a vehicle on its roof on Route 11 in Wallagrass.  Initially, Troopers were concerned that the operator had been ejected from the vehicle.  A search of the local area was conducted, but as the investigation unfolded, it became apparent that the operator had fled the scene of the crash.  Tr. Levesque and K-9 Rocco searched for the operator, but it was clear the operator had left the area.  Later in the evening a woman reported that her boyfriend had been injured when someone had assaulted him and taken his vehicle.  As that investigation progressed, it became apparent that the boyfriend had been the operator of the vehicle that had been found on its roof earlier in the evening.  During the investigation, Tr. Martin also learned that the woman had been assaulted by her boyfriend recently but had not reported the incident.  The man was arrested by Tr. Martin and charged with several offenses, including Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Crash, Failure to Report a Crash, and Domestic Violence Assault with Priors.  The man was medically cleared by a local hospital and then transported the Aroostook County Jail.

 

Incident Type:         K-9 ACTIVITY

Date:                          8/07/2021

Town:                        Mapleton

Trooper:                   Tr. Levesque K-9 Rocco

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Levesque and K-9 Rocco responded to several calls for service this week.  Among them were the following two calls: While assisting the Aroostook Sheriff’s Office in Mapleton K-9 Rocco was able to locate a local man who had attempted to break into a relative’s home.  The man was thought to have left the area, but Rocco located the man hiding in a garage attic.  He was taken into custody by officers without incident. In another call he assisted PIPD with attempting to locate a suicidal 17-year-old female who had run away from home.  The track was not successful do to a possible 10-hour delay and scene contamination, but the team nonetheless attempted to locate the female and assisted in the investigation through the shift.

 

Incident Type:         Neighborhood Dispute

Date:                          8/07/2021

Town:                        Littleton

Trooper:                   Cpl. Michaud

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl Michaud responded to a neighborhood in Littleton when reports were received from several parties about a dispute that was ongoing over noise issues.  Cpl. Michaud learned that a local club had been rented out for a wedding.  As the night progressed a nearby resident was frustrated with noise coming from the wedding and confronted people at the event.  A yelling match ensued between the parties prompting both sides to call the police.  Cpl. Michaud was able to get both parties to come to a compromise regarding the noise and there were no more issues at the event.

 

Incident Type:         warrant arrest

Date:                          8/02/2020

Town:                        Smyrna

Trooper:                   Tr. Cotton

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Cotton was attempting to locate a subject wanted on several outstanding warrants with charges ranging from Violation Conditions of Release to Domestic Violence charges.  His investigation led him to a home in Smyrna and as Tr. Cotton spoke with the homeowner, the subject he was looking for had hidden in the basement and then fled out the back of the house.  Sgt. Fuller and Tr. Barnard arrived a short time later and the man was located in a wooded area near the home.  He was arrested without incident and taken to jail.

 

Incident Type:         OAS

Date:                          8/04/2021

Town:                        Dyer Brook

Trooper:                   Tr. Cotton

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Cotton stopped a vehicle in Dyer Brook for a defective brake light.  Through his investigation Tr. Cotton learned that the man’s license was currently suspended. The man was on his way to work so Tr. Cotton arranged to have the man get to his work location and subsequently summoned him to Houlton Court for Operating After Suspension.

 

Incident Type:         Warrant Arrest

Date:                          8/05/2021

Town:                        Hodgdon

Trooper:                   Tr. Cotton

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Cotton arrested a man on two outstanding warrants stemming from driving offenses out of the Bangor area.  Tr. Cotton had found the man walking in the roadway and obstructing traffic.  The man was arrested without incident and taken to the Aroostook County Jail.

 

 

Incident Type:         OUI

Date:                          8/04/2021

Town:                        frenchville

Trooper:                   tr. curtin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Curtin responded to a motor vehicle crash in Frenchville after receiving a report of a vehicle in the ditch.  As a result of Tr. Curtin’s investigation, he arrested and charged the male operator for Operating Under the Influence.  

 

Incident Type:         WARRANT

Date:                          8/04/2021

Town:                        fort fairfield

Trooper:                   cpl. casavant

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Casavant arrested a 23-year old Portage man on a temporary warrant for Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening after an investigation by Presque Isle Police Department. 

 

 

Incident Type:         THEFT

Date:                          8/05/2021

Town:                        weston

Trooper:                   tr. sylvia

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Sylvia took the report of a stolen motor vehicle from a Bible camp in Weston.  The owner of the vehicle reported one of the employees had been drinking and took the vehicle without permission sometime in the night.  They believed he may be trying to get to central Maine where he lives.  Tr. Sylvia entered a File 1 and the vehicle was stopped by Penobscot SO in Eddington.  The 55-year old Turner man was arrested and charged with Theft by Unauthorized Use of Property.     

 

Incident Type:         VIOLATION OF BAIL

Date:                          8/05/2021

Town:                        van buren

Trooper:                   Tr. merchant

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Merchant and Tr. Mahon assisted Maine Pre-Trial with a bail violation in Van Buren.  The suspect’s case manager advised the 32-year old man was on 24/7 House Arrest, however his issued GPS device was showing that he had been in several other towns.  Troopers located the man at home and arrested him without incident.  He was transported to ACJ.

 

 

Incident Type:         ASSIST OTHER AGENCY

Date:                          8/06/2021

Town:                        wallagrass

Trooper:                   tr. curtin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Curtin assisted Fort Kent PD with recovering a vehicle that had been reported stolen on 8-4-21.  Tr. Curtin located the vehicle approximately a mile and a half in the woods in Wallagrass.  Arrangements were made with the owner to get the vehicle. 

On 08/03/2021, Tr. Darcy stopped a vehicle northbound on the turnpike in York during the morning commute traveling 95 MPH. The driver had a PR bail warrant out of York County for Misuse of Identification. Arrangements were made to meet a bail commissioner in Saco where the male made bail. He was issued a VSAC for the speed.

On 08/03/2021, Cpl. Cote stopped Anthony Lightfoot (61) of Providence, RI on the ME Turnpike northbound in Portland.  He did not have a license.  He was charged with Operating Without a License and his vehicle was towed away.

On 08/04/2021, at approximately 0040 hours, Tr. LiBritz received a report of a wrecker driver out with a crash at the mile 44 southbound on-ramp and it appeared the male was intoxicated. Upon further investigation, Tr. LiBritz arrested Timothy Mitchell (31) of Saco for operating under the influence and he was issued a summons. Sgt. Wilkinson and Tr. Darcy assisted. Tr. Bourdelais completed the crash report.

Cpl. Ricci A. Cote is investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on 08/05/2021 at 0037 hours on the ME Turnpike southbound at mile 2 in Kittery by the Wilson Road overpass involving a passenger car and a tractor trailer truck.  The car involved was a silver 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 29-year-old Caleb Ewing of Caribou, and the tractor trailer was owned and operated by 46-year-old Joshua Stone of Auburn.  Ewing died at the scene and Stone was uninjured.  Both vehicles sustained extensive damage.  It is believed that Ewing entered on to the turnpike in Kittery and traveled in the wrong direction going northbound in the southbound lane.  Stone and his tractor trailer truck, which was hauling bottled water at the time, were traveling southbound and took evasive action upon spotting Ewing but could not avoid the collision.  Ewing struck the side of the tractor trailer truck rupturing the fuel tank which caused diesel fuel to spew out onto the roadway.  The turnpike was shut down to one lane for hours while police investigated, and crews worked to remove the vehicles and get the roadways clear to be open back up.  The investigation is ongoing.  It is unclear at this time if speed and alcohol were contributing factors.

 

On 08/05/2021, Cpl. Cropper stopped a vehicle for criminal speed (100/60) northbound in Portland. Samantha Caramihalis (29) of Alfred was summonsed.

On 08/05/2021, Cpl. Cote stopped David Broncati (21) of Norwalk, CT on the ME Turnpike southbound in Ogunquit.  He was charged with Criminal Speed for traveling 103 MPH.

On 08/07/2021, Cpl. Cropper stopped a motorcycle for criminal speed (108/70) northbound in Gray. Joseph C. Kosnow II (43) of Lewiston was summonsed.

On 08/08/2021, at 0140 hours, Tr. LiBritz responded to a crash in the area of mile 42 southbound in Scarborough. When she arrived on scene, it was determined the driver, Christopher Maksut (28) of Saco, was operating under the influence and he was transported to Maine Medical Center to be evaluated.   Based on his injures, a blood tech was requested. Maksut was summoned for operating under the influence and violation of conditional release.

On 08/08/2021, Tr. Loder responded to a motor vehicle crash at the Arundel/Kennebunk line to find a gray Audi had gone off the road and struck an “Emergency Stopping Only” sign.  The operator, John Wilkinson (59) of Cape Neddick, was arrested for OUI-Liquor.  Tr. D’Angelo assisted.

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On August 11th, 2021, at approximately 10:18 p.m., Maine State Police responded to a fatal crash on Ayers Junction Road in Pembroke involving a 2009 Toyota Camry, driven by 58-year-old Hardy Preston of Edmunds Township and a 2003 GMC Sonoma, driven by 17-year-old Russell Kirshman of Marion Township. The crash occurred when Kirshman, traveling in the westbound lane crossed the centerline and struck Preston’s car head-on. 

Preston died at the scene. Kirshman was transported to Calais Regional Hospital for minor injuries.

Distracted driving and driving too fast for conditions appear to be factors in the crash. 
 
Corporal Jeffrey Taylor responded as the primary investigating officer and was assisted at the scene by Sergeant Jeffrey Ingemi, Border Patrol, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Pleasant Point PD. Baileyville PD., Pembroke Fire, Dennysville Fire and Rescue, Calais Ambulance, and Lyon’s Towing.  

The Maine State Police would like to extend their condolences to the family and friends of Hardy Preston.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Friday, August 13, 2021, at approximately 7:23 a.m. a single-vehicle rollover occurred on the Turnpike near mile 66 in Gray.

The driver of a 2008 Hyundai Sonata was traveling northbound in the passing lane and was attempting to change lanes. That driver, a female Minor from Minneapolis who was driving on a permit, did not see the other vehicle in the travel lane, jerked the wheel left to avoid hitting the other vehicle, overcorrected right, and went off the roadway. The car rolled over multiple times, ejecting the driver. The car landed on top of the lower half of her body. The driver, in critical condition was sent by Life Flight to Maine Medical Center in Portland from Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. The passenger, a Minor female from Lewiston and also only on a permit, sustained a head laceration and was being treated at CMMC. 

Maine State law requires that an operator of a vehicle who holds a permit only must have a licensed driver that’s at least 20 years of age, with more than 2 years of experience, holding a valid license, sitting in the front passenger seat, and not impaired.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Saturday, August 14, 2021, at approximately 8:45 hours a.m. State Troopers from Troop C responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash on I-95 in the town of Pittsfield. The preliminary investigation reveals that a 2005 Nissan Altima driven by 28-year-old Kaitlyn Hawkes of Eastport and her passenger, 33-year-old Tiffany Bowen of Pembroke were southbound in the travel lane when Hawkes tried to change directions north. Hawkes attempted to use the crossover and entered the passing lane to do so. At that point, a truck driven by 32-year-old Richard Pillsbury of Winslow was driving in the passing lane and was unable to avoid hitting Hawkes’ vehicle. 

Hawkes was transported to Sebasticook Valley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Bowen was life-flighted to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Pillsbury was uninjured in the crash. 

Hawkes has been charged with Aggravated Driving to Endanger and Operating with an Expired License. 
Anyone that witnessed the crash is urged to contact the Maine State Police and speak with Trooper Garret Booth. 

As Troopers continue to investigate the crash, we would like to remind motorists that using crossovers is not permitted for any reason whatsoever and is highly dangerous to everyone driving on the interstate. Please drive responsibly and if you miss your exit, proceed to the next off-ramp and reroute yourself to get to your destination safely.