HEBRON — Police said a Mexico man faces felony drug charges after more than 50 prescription pills were found on him at the scene of a car crash Tuesday afternoon. 

Joseph Samson, 60, was charged with operating under the influence and possession of illegal drugs and booked at the Oxford County Jail in South Paris Tuesday, Maine State Police Sgt. Kyle Tilsley said.

According to Tilsley’s report, he discovered a 1993 Lincoln Mark II that struck a tree on Route 119 near 2:30 p.m. and determined that Samson was the driver.

Tilsley reported that Samson was driving west when the car veered into the opposite lane, left the road and struck a tree. Witnesses at the scene told Tilsley that Samson came close to hitting an oncoming vehicle when he swerved out of his lane. 

During a search of Samson, Tilsley found a plastic bag containing 52 30-milligram oxycodone tablets and drug-related items, including a pill crusher.

Samson was arrested and taken to the jail, where Oxford County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Wyman, a certified drug recognition expert, tested him to determine whether his driving could have been impaired by drug use. The results of the test were not available Wednesday.

According to a jail official, Samson posted $100 cash bail and was released Wednesday afternoon. 

pmcguire@sunjournal.com