FARMINGTON – A North Jay woman who admitted to hitting a cyclist in Wilton last August and driving off, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, assault and driving to endanger Friday in Franklin County Superior Court.

Katy LePlante, 21, was driving on Main Street near Sweden House on Aug. 3 when her vehicle struck 15-year-old Sarah Deveau who was riding her bicycle.

Deveau, who was thrown onto LePlante’s car smashing the windshield, suffered significant injuries for which she was hospitalized for several days and is still receiving “a great deal of rehabilitation,” according to Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson.

LePlante dragged Deveau’s bicycle 100 yards before stopping, backed up to dislodge it and allowed her passengers to flee from the vehicle. LePlante then also fled the scene, he said.

LePlante later admitted to Wilton Police Officer Bob Cole that she had left the scene of the accident.

Cole had tracked her down about 20 minutes after the incident and about three miles away from it. LaPlante was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital for glass in her eye and where she tested positive for alcohol use, though not at a level high enough to be convicted for operating under the influence, according to her attorney David Sanders.

LePlante was not sentenced Friday because the victim’s family was not able to be in court, he said, but, anticipating her sentence, she went to jail to begin serving it after the hearing. She will be sentenced in two weeks when the victim’s family will be available, Sanders said.

– Jodi Hausen
Harley showroom site of blood drive

LEWISTON – The Lewiston-Auburn Harley-Davidson showroom at 839 Main St. will be transformed into a Red Cross blood drive today. Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., blood donors of all types are urged to stop by and give the gift of life.

The event marks the seventh annual Red Cross blood drive to be sponsored by the Mid-Maine Hog Chapter.

To celebrate the event, there will be many giveaways donated by local merchants, as well as Red Cross T-shirts.

Dead River Co. has donated 100 gallons of heating oil that will be raffled off.

Eligible donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health.

Donors may give blood every eight weeks through the American Red Cross.

Blood is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including trauma, organ transplants, premature births and cancer, among other things.

For more information, phone the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit online at www.newenglandblood.org.