An elderly woman caused extensive damage to her car and four others Sunday after her gas pedal reportedly got stuck while she was backing out of a parking space at the Orono IGA.

Orono police Officer Wilfred King said Mae Shirland, 78, of Howland at-tempted to back out of her space, then lost control of her vehicle and hit several cars in the IGA parking lot.

A brand new Ford pickup owned by a New Hampshire man had the most damage – about $3,500, King estimated. A Subaru owned by an Orono resident, an Oldsmobile Cutlass owned by a Veazie woman and a Chevy Blazer owned by a Winterport man were also struck.

Shirland’s 1998 Dodge Strattus had significant damage, the officer said.

King said Shirland’s gas pedal didn’t appear to have any problems, but he said a wooden block had been taped to it. The woman told King it was to help her reach the pedal and had been there for years.

Although Shirland was not injured, the officer said, “I think her pride was hurt.”

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Bangor police were looking for a young man who fled from Bangor Mall security Sunday afternoon after reportedly stealing a pair of sneakers from J.C. Penney.

Mall security chased the suspect toward the Oriental Jade restaurant and lost him. Bangor police were called to assist, but officers were unable to locate him. The man was last seen walking near the Interstate 95 on-ramp.

Police did not know whether the suspect was wearing the stolen shoes or not.

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Witnesses who saw a man drive his van into a telephone pole Friday night on Main Street near Shaw’s called police because they suspected that the man was impaired.

Two witnesses told Bangor police Officer Daniel Herrick that they watched John Tivnan, 56, of Westfield crash the van, get out of the vehicle, drink a beer and toss the can underneath the van.

When Herrick got there, he saw the can under the vehicle and asked Tivnan how much he had to drink. The man said he hadn’t been drinking.

Tivnan had a large cut on his hand from the accident and was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center, but he refused treatment for his injuries. Herrick, however, ordered a blood test that showed Tivnan was intoxicated.

Tivnan was taken to Penobscot County Jail and charged with operating under the influence. The van, which did not belong to Tivnan, was towed.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Eric Russell