Police say driver tried to run

Photo: Chuck Blaquiere

Upright again, this vehicle landed on its roof on Route 118 at the intersection of Shedd Road Saturday evening, victim of the combination of an alleged drunk driver and a brief but impactful snow squall.

NORWAY - Police say a man tried to run away from the wreckage of his car, after crashing it, Saturday.

According to Norway Police Officer Stephen Witham, about 6:30 p.m., November 27, he was called to check on a report that a car had rolled over near the intersection of Shedd and Waterford (Route 118) Roads. He arrived after the Norway Fire Department and Deputy Chief Jim Tibbetts told him the man witnesses said climbed out of the car walked off toward Waterford, then returned and spoke with Tibbetts.

When the officer arrived, the man walked off again and refused to stop when Witham caught up with him. He identified himself as Jacob Lane, 30, of Bethel. But he  refused to comply with Witham's request that he stay at the scene and denied having driven the car at all. Finally, he agreed to stay there while Witham talked to witnesses. However, after a short time, he tried to run off.

Witham and Firefighter Chuck Blaquiere pursued Lane and found him huddled under a tree. The officer and the firefighter subdued Lane and he was taken to the Oxford County Jail in South Paris. Witham charged him with operating under the influence, refusing to submit to arrest, driving without a license and violating bail conditions.

Because of the bail violations charge, Lane was not eligible for release on bail again, until a judge reviewed the case.