A Windham man is facing multiple charges including driving to endanger after allegedly causing crashes in Brunswick and Bath during road rage incidents Tuesday morning.

Shortly before 6 a.m., Jeffrey Leidemann, 58, of Windham, was driving a GMC pickup on Pleasant Street in Brunswick when he allegedly struck another vehicle, according to police. Leidemann then allegedly sped off on Route 1 toward Bath.

The driver of the vehicle that was struck called 911 and followed Leidemann toward Bath before being told by police to stop in order to give a statement.

Neither driver was injured in the Brunswick incident.

Then, at about 6 a.m., Bath police and fire departments, along with the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a crash on Route 1 on the Sagadahoc Bridge near the Vine Street off-ramp.

According to Bath Police Chief Andrew Booth, Leidemann lost control of his truck due to excessive speed coming off the viaduct and struck a Subaru Outback driven by a 43-year-old Woolwich woman.

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The woman was taken to Mid Coast Hospital with minor injuries. Leidemann was not injured.

Both cars were damaged and the crash caused traffic delays Tuesday morning.

Leidemann was charged with driving to endanger and reckless conduct, both Class E misdemeanors punishable by up to six months incarceration and a $1,000 fine, according to the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

Brunswick police also charged Leidemann with driving to endanger and criminal mischief, a Class E and Class D crime, respectively.

He was also ticketed for imprudent speed and failure to maintain control of a vehicle, according to Bath police.

Bath police arrested Leidemann, who was later released on bail. He is scheduled to appear at West Bath Unified Criminal Court on Nov. 16.

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“We would like to remind motorists of the dangers of aggressive driving and road rage, as they often lead to unintended accidents and or injuries,” Booth wrote in a statement Tuesday. “In this case, a woman was injured due to no fault of her own because of two other motorists’ actions that led to a road rage incident.”

Booth said he has noticed an increase in reckless driving over the past year despite fewer drivers on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said most of the city’s car accidents are caused by drivers failing to yield to one another or distracted driving rather than excessive speed.

“There aren’t high speeds in Bath,” said Booth. “The fastest you can get is about 35-40 mph.”

“We all have a responsibility to drive safely and share the road,” Booth said. “We’ve all been cut off in traffic before and gotten upset, but people need to let them go. This incident could’ve been avoided.”

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