PORTLAND — State police say a Cornish woman endangered the lives of her two young children after they spotted her weaving in and out of traffic on the Maine Turnpike and clocked her on radar traveling 124 mph.

State Trooper Roger Teachout said the woman, 25-year-old Cheryl Gilson of Roland Day Road in Cornish, was taken to the Cumberland County Jail on Sunday afternoon where she was charged with criminal speed, driving to endanger, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Teachout said he first spotted Gilson traveling north at a high rate of speed on the Maine Turnpike in Saco around 2 p.m. He followed her for several miles — it was not a high speed pursuit — until their vehicles reached the Exit 47 off ramp in Portland where he pulled her over.

Teachout said he handcuffed Gilson, who did not seem to understand why she was being arrested.

Teachout said he ran checks on three adult males who were in the 2009 Hyundai Sonata with her. All of the men’s driver’s licenses were under suspension. Gilson’s two children, ages 3 and 5, were also in the car and were not harmed.

Teachout said Gilson’s car did not hit any other vehicles despite her speed and erratic driving. Gilson was released Sunday night from jail on $250 cash bail.


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