NEWPORT, Maine — A Palmyra man was summoned on an operating under the influence charge Wednesday after a minor accident on Main Street.
Matthew Hugal, 51, rear-ended a 1992 Plymouth van that was stopped and waiting to turn left into Rite Aid on Main Street, according to Newport Police Department Sgt. Sanger Davis. The driver of the van, Mary Patterson of Unity, and a passenger complained of neck pain but were not hospitalized. Hugal, who was by himself, was not injured.
The 4:45 p.m. accident happened in the area of Gilman Electric, which is near the busy intersection of Route 2 and Route 100. Hugal’s 2002 Chevrolet pickup and Patterson’s van had a combined damage total of about $2,000.
Davis said he smelled alcohol on Hugal, who failed a field sobriety test. A blood sample was drawn and was submitted for testing, said Davis, who opted not to arrest Hugal.
“The only time an arrest is really necessary is if you want to get bail conditions,” said Davis. “He’s a longtime resident of Palmyra, so I just dropped him at someone’s place of residence.”
Hugal faces a court appearance of Nov. 24 in Newport District Court.
