
TURNER — A Minot man has been indicted on 14 charges, including aggravated assault and driving while intoxicated, in connection with a January crash that injured a Monmouth police lieutenant and three others.
Sean McNeil, 41, was indicted by an Androscoggin County grand jury last week on multiple counts of aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and driving to endanger, as well as aggravated criminal driving while intoxicated and criminal speed.
Police said McNeil was drunk and driving recklessly on Jan. 6 when his Ford pickup truck crossed the centerline on Turner Center Road and into the path of a police cruiser driven by Dana Wessling, 52, of Turner, who was driving home.
Wessling was seriously injured and flown to a Portland hospital, according to police reports. Also injured was Wessling’s 7-year-old son, whom he had just picked up from day care.
McNeil and a 47-year-old passenger were transported by Turner and Buckfield rescue services to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Wessling, whose injuries included broken ribs, a cracked sternum, bruised lungs, and a shattered ankle, has not been able to return to work. A GoFundMe campaign has since raised nearly $50,000 in support of Wessling and his family.
The collision, which occurred near the intersection with Bradford Road, was investigated by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court records, McNeil’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the wreck was 0.24%, or three times the legal limit of 0.08%.
Following his indictment, McNeil turned himself in to the county jail in Auburn. He was released on bail.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less