Man swims away after driving off the road into a stream
By WMTW News Staff
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WEST GARDINER, Maine (WMTW) — A Maine man was able to escape from his car and swim away after crashing into the Cobbosseecontee Stream on Sunday morning.
According to Maine State Police, 27-year-old Brandon Nale, of Winslow, drove off Interstate 295 around 7 a.m. near the West Gardiner/Gardiner line.
State trooper Tom Bureau arrived within minutes and immediately entered the water in an effort to rescue the driver. He found the car submerged about seven feet underwater, but was unable to open the door because of oil that had leaked out. After trying to gain access for a few minutes, he learned that the driver had already escaped and swam to a nearby home.
Investigators think Nale had fallen asleep at the wheel, hit a concrete barrier, and launched into the stream. He was ultimately transported to MaineGeneral Hospital in Augusta with non-life-threatening injuries.
The left lane of I-295 was shut down for about an hour while the Maine State Police Dive Team helped recover the car.
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