Bangor driver falls asleep, crashes car

A Bangor woman fell asleep at the wheel of her car Monday afternoon and drove her vehicle into trees on Stillwater Avenue, police said.

Paula Ashe, 48, fell asleep at the wheel of her maroon 1994 Oldsmobile at around 3 p.m., Sgt. Larry Weber of the Bangor Police Department said Monday evening, referring to a report filed by the responding officer, Timothy Shaw. Ashe was traveling south on Stillwater when her car veered off the road into a ditch and struck two trees, Weber said. An employee of Black Bear Lawn Care reported the single-car accident, Weber said.

Ashe was bleeding from her arm and complained of back pain, Weber said. She was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center, and no further details of her injuries were available, Weber said. Her car had approximately $3,000 in front-end damage, the sergeant said.

A passer-by used a cell phone to report a bear on the porch of 6 Edgewood Drive in Brewer Monday night, but when police responded, they found only a barbecue grill, a state police dispatcher said.

Police responded to the call shortly before 9 p.m. An unknown caller expressed concern that the homeowner was not aware of what appeared to be a bear on the porch, the dispatcher said.

A hitchhiker wanted for crimes committed in Ellsworth accepted a ride from a Holden police officer Saturday morning and ended up with a free ride – to jail, police said Monday.

Officer Chris Greeley said he found Ronald Robinson Jr., 50, hitchhiking east on Route 1A just after 9 a.m. Saturday. Robinson said he was trying to get to a friend’s funeral in Ellsworth, according to the officer.

“He wasn’t doing anything illegal, but I asked for his ID Then he tells me he’s on probation. I looked him up and it turns out there are two warrants out for him,” Greeley said.

The warrants for Robinson’s arrest had been issued for failure to pay restitution for a 2001 criminal trespass charge and a 2003 theft charge, Greeley said.

Robinson hopped in the police car when Greeley offered to drive him part of the way to Ellsworth, Greeley said. Instead, Greeley said, he drove Robinson directly to the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor.

Robinson did not indicate that he noticed they were not traveling east, Greeley said.

“Even when we’re outside the jail, I’m waiting for the bay to open, he didn’t say anything,” Greeley said.

Greeley said Robinson has since been transferred to the local jail in Ellsworth where he awaits a court date.

-COMPILED BY BDN REPORTER ANNE RAVANA