LEBANON – A Springvale motorist was cited for texting while driving and was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence and driving to endanger after her vehicle struck a Maine State Police cruiser parked behind a tow truck on Route 202 in Lebanon on Saturday.

Police said Molly Foisy, 22, was operating a silver Nissan Sentra east on Route 202 at what they described as a high rate of speed when her vehicle struck the cruiser.

Police said the Nissan was passing vehicles and heading in the direction of the tow truck when it struck Trooper Benjamin Handzel’s fully marked Maine State Police cruiser. In a social media posting, Maine State Police said the Nissan narrowly missed hitting the tow truck driver.

Handzel had requested a tow truck for a traffic stop at the intersection of Route 202 and Blaisdell Corner Road in Lebanon. Police said Chandler’s Towing and Recovery responded to the scene and was parked completely in the marked break down lane on Route 202 East of the intersection with Blaisdell Corner Road with it’s emergency lights on.

Police said the tow truck operator was outside of his company vehicle, securing a pick-up truck to the flatbed and Handzel’s cruiser was behind it when it was struck.

State Trooper Conner Walton administered a field sobriety tests and arrested Foisy for operating under the influence, police said.

She was taken to York County Jail where an Intoxilyzer test was administered which allegedly indicated she was over the legal limit.

Foisy was charged with Class D misdemeanor operating under the influence; Class E misdemeanor driving to endanger and was issued citations for texting while driving and a move over violation.

She posted $500 bail and was released from jail on Sunday afternoon, a corrections officer said.

Maine State Police Corporal Adam Schmidt investigated the crash.

There were no injuries.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.

 

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