SIDNEY, Maine — A wrong-way drunken driver is facing multiple charges after nearly striking a Kennebec County sheriff’s deputy head-on on Interstate 95 early Friday morning.
Deputy Brittney Johnson was en route to a burglary call in the northbound lane when she noticed headlights coming toward her around 1:50 a.m., according to Maj. Ryan Reardon.
The driver, Miranda Doherty, 27, of Palmyra, was traveling south in the northbound lane, according to Reardon, and the deputy, whose blue lights were activated, narrowly missed a collision, swerving at the last second.
“Had she not taken that action, there could’ve been some very serious injuries,” Reardon said.
Johnson subsequently turned her cruiser around to pursue Doherty and called for backup, Reardon said. Doherty wound up pulling over shortly after Johnson turned around after backup units boxed her in.
Doherty, who was not wearing shoes, told the deputy she had been at “some kind of function” and was slurring her words and had glassy eyes.
Doherty was arrested and taken to the Augusta police station for a Breathalyzer test, where her blood alcohol level was confirmed at .15, nearly twice the legal limit of .08, Reardon said.
Doherty is accused of operating under the influence, failing to stop for an officer and driving to endanger, Reardon said. She remained at the Kennebec County Jail.
