NEW GLOUCESTER

Florida man charged with drunken driving in crash

A Florida man who was speeding when he crashed his car Monday evening on the Maine Turnpike in New Gloucester has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, Maine State Police said.

State Trooper Duane Doughty said he charged John Rossignol, 56, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., with drunken driving after he lost control of his 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis, went off the highway and smashed into a guardrail.

Rossignol was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with an assortment of injuries, none of which was considered to be life-threatening.

Rossignol, who told police he was driving to Old Town to visit relatives, was alone at the time. No other motorists were involved in the crash.

The accident, which was reported at 5:10 p.m., forced police to shut down one lane of northbound traffic for about 30 minutes. Rossignol’s car was destroyed in the crash.

SOUTH PORTLAND

School bus drivers to discuss extent of responsibilities

School bus drivers in South Portland plan to meet Tuesday morning to go over their responsibilities after an elementary school boy hid on a school bus last week and was later found in the bus garage.

School Superintendent Suzanne Godin said that on Thursday, one of the children on an elementary school bus hid under a seat when the other children got off.

At the end of his route, the driver did a visual inspection of the bus but did not see the hidden child, and so he left for the bus garage. The boy was seen by workers within about five minutes of the bus’s arrival at the garage and then taken back to school, Godin said. She said the boy’s mother was notified.

Godin said standing and scanning the bus is a minimal requirement, but the district expects drivers to walk down the aisle to make sure no one remains on board.

FARMINGTON

Runner in fair condition after being struck by pickup

A Farmington woman was listed in fair condition Monday at a hospital after being struck by a pickup truck Sunday while she was running in the town.

Tess Perry, 26, was running down Fairbanks Road around 9 a.m. Sunday when she was struck by a pickup truck driven by Colin Gallagher, 25, of Brunswick, according to Deputy Chief Shane Cote of the Farmington Police Department.

Cote said Gallagher was driving north on Fairbanks Road, which is Route 4, when his 2004 Dodge pickup began to slide on the icy road. Gallagher tried to swerve to avoid striking Perry, but ended up hitting her before crashing into a snowbank.

Because of the wind and freezing rain, Cote said a LifeFlight helicopter couldn’t safely fly to the scene. Instead, Perry was taken by ambulance to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where she was listed in fair condition late Monday afternoon, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Gallagher’s truck was damaged when it struck the icy snowbank and had to be towed from the scene, Cote said.

LEVANT

One treated for smoke inhalation after house fire

One person was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation after a house fire Sunday night in the Penobscot County town of Levant.

Fire crews were called to a McIntosh Avenue home at about 10:45 p.m. Sunday, WABI-TV reported.

Heavy flames were already coming from the home by the time they arrived.

Fire Chief Eric Strout said high winds made it difficult to fight the blaze, as did icy road conditions and having to shuttle in water.

The home was destroyed.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating to determine a cause.

Firefighters from eight towns helped out.

PORTLAND

Maine outdoor recreation to get more than $11 million

Millions of dollars are coming to Maine to fund fish and wildlife conservation projects.

U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins said more than $11 million supporting outdoor recreation is being distributed through programs by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The money is raised through taxes on the sale of sports gear including firearms, fishing gear and archery equipment. Fuel taxes on motorboats and small engines also contribute to the funds.

The senators said the money will help support the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.