LEWISTON — An Auburn man who admitted Tuesday to crimes stemming from the hit-and-run of a 22-year-old woman last year in Auburn will be on probation for 18 months.
Michael Fowler appears in July in 8th District Court in Lewiston from Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury or death. Screenshot from video
Michael Fowler, 65, appeared in 8th District Court, where he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of driving to endanger.
He was sentenced to two years in prison, but all of that time was suspended. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison.
If Fowler were to violate the terms of his probation or break the law, he could be made to serve some or all of his suspended sentence.
While on probation, Fowler’s driver’s license will be suspended.
Prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.
The woman apparently suffered a fractured skull from the July 6, 2023 crash and was hospitalized, police said.
Police said a car matching the description of Fowler’s was seen on the surveillance video of a downtown business at 4:15 a.m. on July 6 striking a woman in the road and not stopping.
Police located a light blue, four-door sedan that had significant damage to the right, front passenger-side mirror and side door and front headlight, in a driveway in Auburn.
Prosecutors said Fowler works as a cab driver.
Fowler told police he doesn’t see well at night and that he has sneezing fits that cause him to lose control of his vehicle.
He told police he recalled striking what he believed to be a pole. He said that that occurred on Riverside Drive, which is where the crash was alleged to have occurred, according to prosecutors.
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