RUMFORD — A local man was charged with drugged driving and speeding Friday morning after police say he lost control of his car on Whippoorwill Road and it broke a utility pole.
After declining an ambulance ride to Rumford Hospital, Linwood Giberson, 53, of Lochness Road collapsed and was helped into a police cruiser by Rumford firefighters, and driven to the hospital by Detective Sgt. James Bernard.
“He was complaining of pain to his chest and a knee,” Bernard said afterward. “I suspect the chest pain was from the safety belt tightening up on him when he hit the pole. There was quite an impact.”
By early afternoon, hospital spokeswoman Jane Bubar said Giberson was treated and released.
Bernard said the accident happened at 10 a.m. after Giberson, who was driving south in a 1990 Honda Accord, rounded a corner and entered a straightaway near 50 Whippoorwill Road.
“He claimed the sun was in his eyes,” Bernard said. “He came around the corner and was blinded by the sun, and I think it disoriented him, because he lost control.”
“The car actually spun out of control, and then struck and broke the utility pole,” he said. “He did several 360s before coming to rest. I would say speed is a factor.”
The speed limit is 25 mph where the accident happened.
After declining transport by Med-Care Ambulance, Giberson sat inside Bernard’s sport-utility vehicle cruiser until tow truck driver Roland Patneaude, owner of Roland’s Automotive of Mexico, asked for his car keys to unlock the steering column.
However, Giberson collapsed while walking to his car to retrieve the keys and was helped back into the cruiser by firefighters.
After taking Giberson to the hospital, Bernard said he gave him court summonses on charges of operating under the influence of drugs and imprudent speed.
Giberson will be arraigned on March 8 in Rumford District Court.
-
- Rumford Fire Department Lt. Sylvanus “Butch” Glover adjusts his helmet Friday morning after spreading material to soak up fluids from this a wrecked 1990 Honda Prelude that broke a utility pole on Whippoorwill Road. At right, police Detective Sgt. James Bernard checks documents in the car.
-
- Linwood Giberson, 53, of Lochness Road in Rumford collapses on his car after trying to retrieve keys for wrecker driver Roland Patneaude, left, on Friday morning. Rumford firefighters were clearing debris from Giberson’s car crash on Whippoorwill Road when the driver, who initially declined to go to the hospital, collapsed.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
