HOWLAND, Maine — A boulder most likely kept an Enfield man from plunging into the Penobscot River on Saturday afternoon when his car went off Route 6 and over a guardrail.
Shane Enos, 26, was driving east when something on his 1991 Chrysler LeBaron malfunctioned about 2 p.m., according to Maine State Trooper Lawrence Anderson. The car went down the embankment toward the river but was stopped about 20 feet from the water when the undercarriage became stuck on the boulder.
Enos was not injured but his car was demolished, Anderson said.
The trooper issued him a ticket for not having proof of insurance.
Anderson said speed might have been a factor in the area where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour.
I am so glad that a Maine State trooper was so caring about a man who was nearly killed due to a mechanical malfunction that he just had to ticket the guy. Probably never offered him a ride, just left him standing on the shoulder of the road in near zero weather. Nice guy. I feel so protected.
Aren’t we cynical tonite, Becky. He had no proof of ins. and probably no ins. at all. Who would on a car that was 21 years old but was designed to last only 3 years (except if the ‘malfunction’ caused injury).
I broke down on a trip to NH at 10pm in the rain on a Nov nite. The cop gave me and my suitcase a ride to the Troy/Peterborough town line! Walked just short of 3 miles. BOO HOO ME! Hey, he’s 26 and a big boy now!
Cynical? No, a realist.
Absolutely no reason to be driving without insurance! Some troopers might be seen as jerks and other probably are (I’ve met a few) but I serious doubt they would have left without making sure he was safe. I met more drivers that were Jerks than I have State Troopers that were Jerks.
If he has insurance the ticket will be dismissed. If he has no insurance would you feel the same way if he had hit you instead of the rock?
Doing just exactly what he is getting paid for…. Upholding the law!
You evidently think that State police officers are supposed to be social workers. Last time I checked their business was law enforcement.
You are saying probably as if you don’t know. If you weren’t there and don’t know,don’t comment. Sounds like you have problems with law enforcement officials.
if the car had a mechanical problem how did it pass the strict inspection that we all have to have here in maine. the cop should have gotten his cloths dirty and investagated this aspect of the accident but i bet he did not get to close to the car.. had he i bet he could have wrote more tickets.. way to go msp always doing as little as possible to get that paycheck
With that I agree. But probably he wouldn’t know what he was looking at anyway. Moreover, how could the auto be registered in thsi state if there were no proof of insurance? A requirement in this state for registration. No mention of a ticket issued for lack of registration. A compassionate officer could have simply issued a warning in this instance since there is no further way to operate this vehicle. It is a good thing he didn’t hit anything expensive or anyone else for that matter.
For the alarmists who think the sky is falling:
1) Maybe the car passed inspection and got a sticker several months ago. If you ever knowingly operate an unsafe vehicle, that sticker won’t count for much.
2) He can probably get the charge dismissed by showing he actually had insurance coverage at the time. It’s a time-consuming hassle so it’s much better to have a current insurance card in the vehicle. If it turns out his insurance had lapsed, he deserves the ticket.
3) If the trooper thinks the car should be inspected further that is usually done after it is towed somewhere. I’ve seen them do those inspections and they always get the inspection sticker information while they are at it.