CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou Police Department responded to a crash on South Main Street Thursday that they later determined to have been caused when the driver became distracted by her mobile phone.
Jessica Abar, 38, of Washburn was travelling southbound on South Main Street at about 1:50 p.m. when she picked up her phone to answer a text that she had received, according to responding officer Keith Ouellette. When Abar looked up again and realized she was driving toward the animal shelter, she swerved to correct, losing control and causing the car to flip over onto its roof down into an embankment, Ouellette reported.
The officer said Abar refused medical assistance and walked away with only minor cuts and bruises.
She later admitted that she had been distracted by her cell phone while driving and crashed as a result, according to Ouellette.
He could not say how many recent accidents have occurred in Caribou as a result of distracted driving, but the officer said he has noticed an increase in traffic citations for that offense within the past few years.
