Man seriously injured in high-speed crash

SKOWHEGAN – A Waterville man suffered major injuries after he was ejected from his car while driving on Route 201 on Saturday night. He remained in critical condition at Eastern Maine Medical Center on Sunday evening.

According to Sgt. Joel Cummings of the Skowhegan Police Department, Michael Begin, 30, driving a 1999 Mercury Sable station wagon registered to Theresa Bradford of Clinton, was traveling south on Route 201, about 11/2 miles north of the Sappi paper mill, at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

He crossed the center line as he approached a right-hand curve in the road.

“He overcorrected and went into a skid into the left lane,” Cummings said Sunday evening. “He drove into the southbound ditch, striking a culvert head and rolled over. He was ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious external and internal injuries.”

Begin, who was thrown less than 10 feet from the vehicle, was treated at the scene by EMS. According to reports, he had major fractures to both legs and internal bleeding. He was taken to Redington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan and later was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to EMMC, police said.

In addition to Skowhegan police, Skowhegan fire and Fairfield police members responded to the call as well as Maine State Police, who reconstructed the accident. Speed contributed to the crash, police said.

“According to the reconstruction, there is an initial speed estimate of 100-plus,” said Cummings. “It wasn’t a sharp turn that he hit, but at 100 it’s a lot sharper.”

Cummings said alcohol was also a contributing factor. Begin’s license is currently suspended in the state of Maine. There were no passengers in the vehicle.