PORTLAND — Portland police issued summonses to a driver for refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test and driving to endanger after his sports utility vehicle hit a snowbank and went airborne Sunday night.
Police said 49-year-old Richard Martel – his address wasn’t immediately available – was operating at a high rate of speed on Warren Avenue when his Jeep Grand Cherokee hit a snowbank, went airborne and hit a tree about while 10 feet off the ground.
The Grand Cherokee slid across the parking lot of a medical office building near the intersection of Warren and Forest avenues before landing on its roof.
Lt. Scott Pellietier of the Portland Police Department said Martel had to be extricated from his vehicle by Portland firefighters. He appeared to only suffer minor injuries, but was taken to Maine Medical Center for evaluation, police said.
Pelletier said Martel was alone in his vehicle at the time. The crash took place around 9 p.m.
Pelletier said witnesses told police Martel was traveling at least 60 miles per hour.
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