By Mark LaFlamme,Staff Writer

AUBURN – A businessman at the center of a mill revitalization project in Lewiston was arrested on a drunken driving charge late Monday after twice crashing his car.

Travis Soule, 40, of New Gloucester, was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing in two different spots shortly before midnight, according to police reports.

Soule, of Solo Properties, has an agreement with the city of Lewiston to redevelop the Cowan and Libbey mills as condominiums, retail stores and restaurant space by 2007. Soule has said he may also build a nine-story hotel there in the future.

According to police reports, Soule was driving at Minot Avenue and High Street about 11:30 p.m. Monday when he lost control of his Volvo and struck a street sign. Police said in the report that Soule drove away from the scene, leaving behind a trail of oil and antifreeze.

Ten minutes later, on Washington Street, Soule crashed again, this time losing control on a curve on the Little Androscoggin River Bridge. The Volvo spun out of control and crashed on the side of the road before Soule regained control and drove away once more, police said.

Officers who went to the scene caught up with Soule minutes later. He was stopped and arrested on Washington Street just before midnight.

Damage to Soule’s Volvo was minor, and he was not hurt in the back-to-back accidents, according to the crash reports. He is scheduled to appear in court March 30.

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