The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office is alleging that a Damariscotta woman purposely drove her car into a tractor-trailer truck in Woolwich.

The crash took place Thursday evening on U.S. Route 1 just north of the road’s intersection with the George Wright Road.

Sheriff Joel A. Merry said a 2012 Ford Focus operated by Sandra Francis, 36, struck a 2008 Peterbilt tractor-trailer truck driven by Robert Martin, 66, of Sunapee, New Hampshire.

“The tractor-trailer was traveling south on U.S. Route 1 when the Ford Focus, traveling north, veered directly into its path. The truck driver made every attempt to avoid the collision and ended up wedged against a line of guardrails,” Merry said in a press release. “It is believed that the operator of the Ford Focus intentionally drove into the path of the oncoming tractor-trailer. If not for the actions of the truck driver this would likely have been a fatal crash.”

Francis was charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, operating under the influence, and driving to endanger, Merry said. Francis, who was transported to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick with non-life threatening injuries, is scheduled to appear in West Bath District Court on Jan. 10.

Martin, who was not injured, was towing a 2008 tanker trailer owned by Jay Maholtz Trucking of Strafford, New Hampshire.

The crash forced police to shut down Route 1 for about five hours. The accident remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office and the Brunswick Police Department.

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