December 23, 2024
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Baldacci’s wife, son rear-ended in Bangor

BANGOR – Karen Baldacci, wife of Gov.-elect John Baldacci, and their 11-year-old son, Jack, were in a vehicle that was rear-ended Saturday by a Bangor woman who was charged with her second drug-related driving offense in one day.

Karen Baldacci, 41, complained of neck pain and Jack Baldacci did not appear to be injured, Bangor police Officer Kyle MacLaren said. She was behind the wheel of a 1997 Isuzu Trooper sport utility vehicle that was stopped at a red light on Stillwater Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday when the accident occurred.

Stacey L. Barfield, 30, was driving the green 1993 Toyota Corolla that struck Baldacci’s Trooper, MacLaren said. The front end of the Corolla became entangled under the Isuzu’s rear bumper.

When police arrived, the horn on Barfield’s Corolla was sounding as she tried to shove its air bag back into the steering wheel.

Damage to the Corolla was estimated at $1,000. Damage to the Trooper was estimated at $200. Both Baldaccis were wearing their seat belts. Barfield, who did not complain of any injuries, told police she had dozed off while she was driving, MacLaren said. She failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Bangor Police Department, where Sgt. Thomas Reagan conducted a drug recognition test.

Barfield was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs. She also was issued a summons for failure to provide a valid insurance card.

A few hours earlier Saturday, Barfield had been driving a black 2002 Ford Escort on Mount Hope Avenue, Bangor police Officer James Dearing said. She had been attempting to return the rental car to Darling’s Ford on Hogan Road when her boyfriend, Brian M. Jones, 25, of Bangor, rear-ended her car just before 12:30 p.m., police said.

Barfield had stopped at a stop sign, then began driving the Escort forward when Jones allegedly failed to stop his blue 1988 GMC truck for the stop sign and struck the car, police said. Damage to each vehicle was estimated at more than $5,000.

Jones is the owner of the Corolla involved in the accident later in the evening.

After the Mount Hope Avenue accident, police reported slurred speech by Jones and Barfield.

Barfield told police they each had received a methadone treatment at Acadia Hospital earlier in the morning and claimed she had taken a prescription tranquilizer earlier to calm down. Jones told police he had taken methadone in the morning.

After failing numerous field sobriety and drug recognition tests, each was charged with operating under the influence of drugs. Barfield also was charged with furnishing Schedule W drugs when officials found 191/2 80-milligram pills of OxyContin in her pants pocket. She was released from police custody on personal recognizance about 3 p.m. Saturday.


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