LINCOLN, Maine — It was a case that police initially thought would be difficult to solve: Witnesses on Enfield Road reported that a possibly drunk driver had slammed into a ditch in front of their home before driving off Saturday night.
Investigators lacked a detailed description of the vehicle and had no idea where it came from or went, said Detective Mark Fucile, Lincoln Police Department spokesman.
“It was very dark and the witnesses said they only saw the vehicle drive away with front-end damage and no lights,” Fucile said Tuesday.
There was, however, one clue in the ditch — a license plate, Fucile said.
Jacob Langley, 23, of Enfield was issued a summons Saturday for operating under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and operating without a license.
Officer Andrew Scelso traced the license plate to Langley’s address. When Scelso and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Stone arrived there, they found Langley standing in front of his 2002 Honda sedan. The car’s front end was heavily damaged and covered in mud and grass. Its front bumper was gone, Fucile said.
Langley told investigators that he went into the ditch after he swerved to avoid a deer. He allegedly failed a field sobriety test at his address. He also allegedly had a blood-alcohol content of .10, Fucile said.
Under Maine state law, a person can be charged with driving under the influence with a BAC of .08 or greater.
Langley was released on a promise to appear in Lincoln District Court on Feb. 3, Fucile said.