Woman charged with OUI in fatal crash

ELLSWORTH – Early Saturday morning, an Ellsworth woman, who later was charged with aggravated drunken driving, rear-ended a vehicle from Hancock, causing the driver’s death, according to police.

Ellsworth Fire Department personnel removed Benedict “Benny” Starbuck, 23, from the damaged 2001 Pontiac Sunfire he was driving, and he was taken to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

While leaving Birchwood Living Center around 2 a.m., after visiting with his father, who works at the center, Starbuck turned east onto Main Street and was struck from behind by a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am operated by Dorothy Cook, 47, of Ellsworth, according to police.

“She was charged with aggravated OUI [operating under the influence of intoxicants], a Class C felony,” Officer Shawn Willey of the Ellsworth Police Department, lead investigator in the collision, said Sunday.

Speed was a factor in the accident, according to police. A blood alcohol test was taken, and results are expected in two weeks.

Still under investigation is whether Cook was drinking at a bar, her home or elsewhere.

“We really don’t know where she was coming from,” Willey said.

Emergency responders got the call at 2:06 a.m. Saturday, and the Fire Department used hydraulic extraction tools to remove Starbuck from his vehicle, Deputy Fire Chief Jon Marshall said Sunday.

“There was damage to the rear on both sides, and neither door could be opened,” he said of Starbuck’s car.

The impact was strong enough to toss Starbuck into the back seat of his small car, Marshall said.

At the same time, a separate team worked with Cooks’ vehicle. Her passenger, David Griffin, 58, of Hancock suffered minor head injuries in the collision and also was treated at MCMH before being taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. He was released Saturday.

Cook was treated for minor injuries in Ellsworth and later released.

Neither Starbuck nor Griffin was wearing a seat belt, and it is unknown whether Cook was belted, Willey said.

After being charged with aggravated OUI, Cook – who has a previous OUI conviction from December 1991 – was taken to Hancock County Jail.

She posted bail, set at $2,500 cash or $20,000 surety, on Saturday and was released. Her court date is June 23 in Hancock County Superior Court.

In addition to Ellsworth police and fire, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and County Ambulance responded.

Fire crews remained at the scene with lighting until 6:30 a.m. while police, led by Sgt. Barton Tokas, reconstructed the collision. Officer Christopher Smith also is assisting in the investigation.

Other charges against Cook are pending, police officials said.