SKOWHEGAN — A Cornville woman who led authorities on a high-speed chase Wednesday before crashing on Malbons Mills Road faces multiple charges including eluding police, operating after habitual offender revocation and operating under the influence, police said.
Skowhegan police say the driver of this Mitsubishi Eclipse SUV was intoxicated Wednesday when she fled from a traffic stop. The driver was hospitalized after the SUV traveled off Malbons Mills Road and crashed in a field. Photo courtesy of Skowhegan police
Hiedi Harrington, 48, was taken to Redington-Fairview General Hospital and later to Maine Medical Center in Portland where she was being treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police Chief David Bucknam said Thursday.
“There’s no danger to her life at this point,” Bucknam said.
He said the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office got a call around 4:40 p.m. Wednesday about a female who was allegedly driving drunk in Cornville, though a deputy was not able to find her vehicle.
Then the vehicle, a silver 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse SUV, was seen at Damon’s store on Madison Avenue in Skowhegan and the caller said the driver was extremely intoxicated, Bucknam said.
Police Detective Sgt. Kelly Hooper was driving into town on U.S. Route 2 and the Eclipse turned east onto Water Street from North Avenue near Dunkin Donuts. Hooper saw the vehicle and pursued it, according to Bucknam.
The Eclipse started making dangerous passes around other vehicles on Water Street and as it crested the hill onto U.S. Route 2. The car moved to the right side of the street and slowed down, so Hooper pulled her cruiser behind it, Bucknam said. But he said the Eclipse fled and turned left on Malbons Mills Road near the Great Eddy of the Kennebec River. Hooper turned on her lights and siren and followed it but the Eclipse went into oncoming traffic on a curve going up the hill, so Hooper backed down, Bucknam said.
Hooper lost sight of the Eclipse but about a half-mile later, she saw a large dust cloud on the road. The officer discovered the Eclipse had veered off the road in the oncoming traffic side and apparently rolled and landed in a field near 315 Malbons Mills Road, according to Bucknam.
“The damage to her vehicle was quite extensive,” Bucknam said.
Bucknam said the investigation is ongoing and when Harrington is medically cleared, police planned to charge her with eluding an officer, a Class C felony; revoking her license; operating after habitual offender revocation with priors, a felony; reckless conduct, a Class D misdemeanor; and operating under the influence, with two or more priors.
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