Coffee swig sends driver off road into parked car
Rockland — The driver of a 2001 green Subaru Legacy took a swig of coffee Oct. 5 and drove off the road into another vehicle parked in a driveway.
At about 9:45 a.m., Nicholas Smith, 59, of Appleton, was driving south on South Main Street. He took a sip of coffee from his coffee cup while driving and began to cough, according to Patrolman James Jillson of the Rockland Police Department, the officer in charge of the scene.
"When he coughed, he lost control of the car," said Jillson.
Smith veered off to the left, nicked a utility pole and drove across a lawn into a 2002 blue Jeep Liberty that was parked in the driveway at 19 South Main St. The building is next door to the Mid-Coast School of Technology. Jeffrey Benner, 39, who owns the Jeep and who lives on Crescent Street, was not in the car at the time, Jillson said.
Smith's vehicle crashed head-on into the Jeep. Smith banged his forehead on the front mirror and cracked the windshield, the officer said.
Rockland Fire and Emergency Medical Services arrived in an ambulance and transported Smith to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport for observation because of the bruise on his forehead, Jillson said.
There was no estimate of the damage to the vehicles. The front end of the Subaru was pushed in while the left front fender and hood of the Jeep were damaged.
Jillson said no charges would be filed.
Central Maine Power, owner of the utility pole, was called about the accident.
Courier Publications Reporter George Chappell can be reached at 594-4401 or by email at gchappell@courierpublicationsllc.com.
Now that's a strong cup of coffee...
I'm glad that no one was seriously hurt. drinking coffee and/or eating donuts while driving is about as smart as texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. not! This gives me reason to speak of what I've been thinking about for awhile. Recycling tires for bumpers on cars. Seems ridiculous to me to have cars made of fiberglass. What if we had rubber bumpers? In fact we all might be smiling. What if they were "made in Maine?" We wouldn't be sustaining crashed up cars! Plus we all get rid of tires at some point, so there is an excess of them. Remember when cars were made out of metal? Sure they are not aerodynamically correct, what's more important? saving ourselves from serious injuries or running cheaply made cars? I want to have rubber bumpers and also rubber recycled shoes made in Maine. Anyone want to start up an industry that might perhaps lower our property taxes? Not a good idea to cut the budget fire dept or police, these folks risk their lives for us and show up to help when we have accidents, I'm tired of hearing people suggest these costs be cut. We need these dedicated people and the up to date trainings and supplies they need (ie; fire trucks and equipment). Let's attract new businesses to our area or create them ourselves. meanwhile, glad that Nick Smith is ok.