Authorities find man hiding in girlfriend's shed following head-on crash on Route 4

LIVERMORE - Following an extensive search that lasted more than two hours, authorities found the driver of a car that caused a head-on crash that sent two people to the hospital by helicopter Saturday morning.

Christian Brown-Barbioni, 30, of Livermore, was found hiding in a shed at his girlfriend's home and arrested Saturday afternoon, police said. He was charged with driving without a license, an unspecified warrant out of Franklin County and aggravated leaving the scene of an accident. Deputy Craig MacMillan of the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office said that the final charge was elevated to a felony due to the serious nature of the accident. Alcohol was ruled out as a factor in the accident, but additional charges may be filed, pending the results of a toxicology report, he said.

MacMillan said that the crash occurred at 10:37 a.m. on Saturday. Brown-Barbioni was driving a 1999 Buick four-door southbound on Route 4 when he crossed the centerline and hit a northbound 2006 Toyota SUV driven by Wayne Bouchard, 53, of Rumford. MacMillan said that Bouchard and his wife, Joanne Bouchard, 54, were taken to Central Maine Medical Center via helicopter after the head-on collision. He said they were listed in stable condition Sunday.

The vehicle Brown-Barbioni was driving was owned by his girlfriend's mother, Shelia Hamlin, 49, of Livermore Falls, MacMillan said. Brown-Barbioni took the car, which was not covered by insurance, without permission, but was not being charged with theft.

Amie Jacques, 33, of Rumford, that was traveling northbound behind Bouchard and was unable to stop her vehicle in time and rear-ended Bouchard's SUV. Neither Jacques nor her passenger, Felicia Bell, 24, of Rumford, was injured.

After the accident, Brown-Barbioni took off on foot into a wooded area, MacMillan said. Authorities from the Sheriff's Office and Maine State Police searched for him for more than two hours before locating him in a shed at his girlfriend's home on Route 108 in Livermore — about two miles from the scene of the accident. In addition to the Sheriff's Office and state police, MacMillan said Maine Game Wardens were on their way to assist.

"A lot of people stopped to help with the crash," MacMillan said, thanking several people who assisted authorities and emergency personnel immediately after the accident, including two nurses and a man who helped with the search for Brown-Barbioni.

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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest

tcqwnwrggd's picture

Wow, yet another way that my

Wow, yet another way that my family continues to embarrass itself. Wonder when the craziness will ever end? My prayers go out to the family's there were involved. Wonder if the madness will ever end.

Mrdee's picture

Execute him

Execute him

semturk's picture

JoAnne and Wayne I hope you

JoAnne and Wayne I hope you are both okay. and will have a speedy recovery. May GOD bless you.

semturk's picture

I would like to add to this

I would like to add to this blog. I really like how people have so many opinions of thing they know nothing about. First of all to rearend someone you usually hit them in the rearend well the Jacques vehicle has damage to it's passengers hind quarter. Also it doesn't matter where the Jacques truck was the other man caused the accident and the SOB will probably get away with it. NO INSURANCE wow that is getting to be a habit on Maine roads. So even though the Bouchards and Ms Jacques are the victims in this they will have to pay to fix their own cars and pay for their own medical bills. Nice justice. They ought to have that guy put somewhere so he can be made to earn the money to pay for everything. Their is a place for him they just haven't dug it yet.

Nancy1's picture

fbell, I can believe it. We

fbell, I can believe it. We came upon the accident - it was on a curve, not such good visibility.

Hope everyone has a quick recovery and the driver gets what he deserves.

rangercoy's picture

ACTUALLY...Ms. Jacques was

ACTUALLY...Ms. Jacques was NOT following too close, and She in fact DID NOT rear-end Mr & Mrs. Bouchard. How do I know this? Because I was in the vehicle with Ms. Jacques. Amie swerved into the oncoming lane (which was clear) and tried to avoid the accident. Her vehicle was struck in the rear when the Bouchards vehicle jack knifed off of Brown-Barbioni's. Had she NOT reacted and swerved into the other lane as she did, the only other option for her WOULD have been to rear-end them considering where in the road the two vehicles impacted. An Immediate stop would not have even prevented some sort of collision. I know the information was presented incorrectly, and that is why I am setting the record straight. As for Mr & Mrs Bouchard, Amie and I are praying for them, and we hope that Christian Brown-Barbioni gets what he deserves and this does not get down played.

ratterrier1's picture
verified

Wayne & Joanne, my thoughts

Wayne & Joanne, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope they throw the book at this guy but we all know he'll probably just get slap on the wrist.

Nancy1, I agree with you, if the police were allowed to accept video from the citizens, it would make their jobs a little easier.

Nancy1's picture

Best of luck to the

Best of luck to the Bouchards, hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.

I was behind a driver yesterday who was all over the road. I could see her in her rear view - look down, swerve, look up, look down, swerve. Obviously had some important texting to do. I wish the police would allow as evidence citizens' videos of this kind of stuff. These people are a deadly menace!

TREEHUGGARRR's picture

Good job by the cops

Good job by the cops involved. I look forward to tron's comments and finding fault with the way they handled it.

greatgramgrover@beeline-online.net's picture
verified

Wait for the toxocoly

Wait for the toxocoly report he without a doubt was under the influence of drugs. Christian is always in trouble and will never change lock him up and throw the key away then people on the highway will be safe. He has gotten away with to much in his life with only a slap on the wrist by the judge when he goes to court. So maybe this time the judge will make his stay forever. He should be charged with theft of the vechile and who will be responsible for the Bouchards medical bills if theowner of the vechile had no insurance on it. ?

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