MEXICO – An 18-year-old Mexico man escaped serious injury early Sunday morning when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and it rolled over.

Mexico Sgt. Roy Hodsdon said Joseph Laurinaitis of Roxbury Road was driving his 2004 Pontiac sedan west along the River Road, also known as Route 2, at 4:15 a.m. when he became either distracted or dozed off.

When he overcorrected the steering, the car swerved and struck a guardrail, then bounced to the opposite side of the road and rolled over. It landed on its tires in a vacant lot.

He was transported to Rumford Hospital by Med-Care Ambulance Service where he was treated and released. Officer Dean Benson responded to the accident, along with members of the Mexico Fire Department.

The vehicle sustained at least $2,500 damage, Hodsdon said. Laurinaitis was wearing a safety belt which most likely prevented more serious injuries.