AUGUSTA — A man who drove drunk in a crash that split a car in half last December when it stuck a tree near the Marketplace at Augusta pleaded guilty to operating under the influence in that incident and criminal speed in a separate incident during a hearing Tuesday at the Capital Judicial Center.
Andrew P. Lufkin, 36, of Gardiner, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for the Dec. 16, 2016, crash on Townsend Road that sent him and his passenger to the hospital. He was driving a Mitsubishi Lancer east on Townsend Road when it hit a tree in the median and broke in two, leaving half in the eastbound lane and half in the westbound lane. Rescuers used the Jaws of Life tool to free Lufkin and passenger Andrew Peterson, now 30, of Chelsea, from the wreckage.
Both men were treated at MaineGeneral Medical Center for injuries.
“The victim (a passenger) did not want to see this go forward as a serious bodily injury case,” said the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Tyler LeClair, explaining to Judge Evert Fowle why more serious charges had not been brought. LeClair also said the passenger did not want to provide documentation of medical bills.
Lufkin’s blood-alcohol content tested at 0.12, LeClair said. The legal limit for adult drivers in Maine is 0.08.
In addition to the jail time, which he is to begin serving Wednesday, he was fined $500 and his license was suspended for 150 days.
Lufkin also pleaded guilty to motor vehicle speeding more than 30 mph over the posted limit, which occurred Oct. 5, 2016, in Winthrop. He was fined $300 for that offense.
Lufkin was represented by attorney Pasquale “Pat” Perrino, who said Lufkin would pay the fines when he was released from jail.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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