POLAND – The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department hunted for a Poland man for three hours early Sunday morning after police said he left the scene of two accidents.

Joshua Sawyer, 23, became aggravated after being kicked out of a party on Lower Street in Minot and intentionally slammed into a vehicle as he left the party, said Androscoggin County Deputy Tim Kachnovich.

“He left the scene of that accident and took off toward Poland,” Kachnovich said. “At the intersection of Empire Road and Lewiston Junction Road he smashed through a guardrail and landed 30 feet out into a nearby stream.”

When sheriffs arrived at the scene of that accident, Sawyer’s 1994 Pontiac Grand Am was abandoned. Kachnovich said Sawyer crawled out of his mangled car and fled into the woods.

“At that point, we called in our canine unit and chased his trail through the woods without success,” Kachnovich said.

As the sheriffs hunted for him, Sawyer approached a house and convinced the homeowner to give him a ride home, according to police.

“He told the homeowner that he was lost and needed help getting home,” Kachnovich said. “As they drove down the street, the homeowner noticed the police cruisers and stopped his vehicle.”

Deputies recognized Sawyer in the car and quickly apprehended their suspect, Kachnovich said.

Sawyer suffered minor cuts and bruises but didn’t require medical attention.

He was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident and operating under the influence.