By Abigail W. Adams
The driver of this Subaru Outback was charged with a felony OUI for allegedly causing the accident that closed Route 1 in Wiscasset for an hour the afternoon of Oct. 8. |
A Boothbay woman was charged with a felony for allegedly operating under the influence of drugs, causing a collision with injury that closed Route 1 in Wiscasset for approximately one hour the afternoon of Oct. 8.
Cheryl Swenson, 54, was operating a 2003 Subaru Outback northbound on Route 1 with her 77-year old mother, Carolyne Hutchins, also of Boothbay, in the vehicle, according to a press release from the Wiscasset Police Department.
Swenson swerved into the southbound lane, in the vicinity of the Maine Heritage Village, and struck a horse trailer towed by a 2006 Dodge Ram operated by Kirstie Ransdell, 44, of Bristol. Ransdell’s teenage daughter was a passenger in the vehicle.
The collision caused Swenson’s Subaru Outback to roll-over. The vehicle came to a rest on its roof in the northbound lane. The Wiscasset Fire Department helped remove Hutchins who was trapped inside the vehicle.
Cheryl Swenson |
She was transported to LincolnHealth – Miles Campus by the Wiscasset Ambulance Service, Chief Troy Cline said in the press release. Hutchins was later transported to Maine Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson said.
Ransdell and her daughter were not injured in the collision, Cline said.
According to Cline, Swenson was transported to Two Bridges Regional Jail for a breath test. Swenson had no alcohol in her system, which was inconsistent with the level of impairment she was allegedly demonstrating, Cline said.
A drug recognition expert from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office conducted an examination and determined Swenson was under the influence of both prescription drugs and heroin. Swenson was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, with injury and with prior, a class B felony.
Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and were towed from the scene, which took approximately one-hour to clear. Drivers were instructed to find alternate routes as the accident scene was cleared. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and off-duty officers from other agencies assisted at the scene.