2 min read

A 2019 Kia Optima sits Wednesday night on the shoulder of Interstate 95 in Sidney after its driver, Keishaunna Tavares, 34, of San Diego, fell asleep while behind the wheel and drove into the back of a cruiser being driven by a state trooper, officials say. Maine State Police photo

SIDNEY — A California woman fell asleep while driving Wednesday night and hit the back of a police cruiser being driven by a state trooper on Interstate 95 in Sidney, officials said.

The trooper, Cpl. Garret Booth, suffered an arm injury for which he was treated at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.

Maine State Police Cpl. Garret Booth’s cruiser sits Wednesday night on the shoulder of Interstate 95 in Sidney after the vehicle was damaged when hit from behind by a motorist from California who had fallen asleep while driving, officials say. Maine State Police photo

Keishaunna Tavares, 34, of San Diego dozed off at about 11 p.m. as she was northbound on I-95, according to Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

“(Tavares) fell asleep, causing her foot to press on the accelerator and her vehicle to speed up uncontrollably,” Moss wrote in an announcement to the news media.

Tavares hit the cruiser at “a high rate of speed,” Moss said.

Booth was taken to the hospital and later released, officials said.

Tavares, who was not injured, was cited with failing to maintain control of her motor vehicle.

Moss said the crash remained under investigation Thursday.

Dylan Tusinski is an investigative reporter with the Maine Trust for Local News' quick strike team, where his stories largely focus on money, drugs and government accountability. He has written about international...