A Washington man is facing a felony operating under the influence charge after allegedly striking and killing a Waldoboro man on a bicycle whom he was planning to pick up Nov. 22, according to the Waldoboro Police Department.
Jeffrey R. Moran, 27, was operating a 1999 GMC Yukon on Feyler’s Corner Road in Waldoboro when he allegedly struck Jessie Hayden, 31, who was riding a bicycle on the roadway, according to a press release from the department.
Moran reported he found a bike in the roadway and saw a male lying in the ditch who was non-responsive and not breathing. Waldoboro Police and Waldoboro EMS responded at approximately 8:34 p.m., and Hayden was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.
Hayden lived on Feyler’s Corner Road, “a short ways up the street from where the accident was,” according to Police Chief Bill Labombarde.
Moran was headed toward Washington Road (Route 220) at the time of the accident and Hayden was in the middle of the road heading the opposite direction, Labombarde said.
Moran did not cross the center line when he allegedly struck Hayden with the driver’s side of the vehicle’s front bumper, Labombarde said.
Hayden was not wearing reflective gear, nor a helmet, Labombarde said.
Waldoboro Police Officer Thomas Bartunek said in an affidavit he spoke with Moran, who allegedly said he was driving the Yukon and was headed to pick up his friend, Hayden, when he hit him.
A 13-year-old male was also in the Yukon at the time of the accident, Bartunek wrote.
“While [Moran] was talking with me I observed his eyes were bloodshot and glassy,” and Moran allegedly admitted to having one drink that night, Bartunek wrote. Bartunek also observed several unopened beer cans behind the driver’s seat.
Bartunek administered a field sobriety test, and a later breath test showed Moran had a breath alcohol content of 0.09 percent, according to the affidavit.
Moran was arrested for criminal OUI, a class B felony, and taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail. If convicted, Moran could face up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
He was released on $10,000 bail on Monday, Nov. 24, according to jail personnel.