The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will be filing an adverse report on Nicole Fowler, 25. Edgecomb, following two single vehicle accidents in as many days, according to LCSO Sgt. Jason Nein.
Nein, who is an accident reconstructionist for his department, said adverse reports are filed with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles “when somebody has a series of crashes in a short period of time with no apparent reason other than the fault of their own.”
A set of rules on the BMV website “describe the standards to be used by the Secretary of State in determining physical, emotional and mental competence of persons to operate motor vehicles,” including potential driving evaluations that can culminate in a revoked or conditionally issued license.
The adverse report on Fowler follows accidents on Oct. 23 and 24 in Randolph and Dresden, respectively.
Fowler was driving a 2002 Saab southbound on the River Road in Randolph around 11 a.m. when “she hit the [Goggins] IGA sign, raced through their entrance and onto a property beside the IGA and on a lawn,” said Kennebec County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Bickford.
“She didn’t do much damage to the sign itself, damaged the cement curbing on their entrance when she crossed it,” Bickford said.
According to Bickford, Fowler stated that just before she got to the IGA, the sun was in her eyes and she couldn’t remember anything after that.
When asked about the damage to the car, Bickford said, “I don’t know the value, I would say the car was totaled.”
Fowler had minor injuries on her face from the airbag, but was cleared by medical personnel, Bickford said.
In the second accident, which occurred at about 8 a.m. Oct. 24, Fowler took out a utility pole and 55 mph road sign after crossing the oncoming lane of traffic, according to Lincoln Count Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Collamore.
Fowler was transported for her injuries after complaining of neck and back pain, according to Collamore.
Nein said “It is our belief at this point that the cause of the [Oct. 24] accident was driver inattention or distraction…I based that belief on the lack of any pre-impact braking or steering evidence.”
There was no appearance of any attempt to avoid the collision, Nein said.
“I spoke to the deputy that handled [the Dresden] accident as soon as I found out that she had another accident the next day,” Bickford said. “I wasn’t going to go forward with anything, but if they needed my input” on the adverse report they could give him a call.
“I do believe that was the right way to go, for them to do that,” Bickford said.
Fowler could not be reached for comment by press time.