TURNER — A Sabattus woman was arrested Saturday after she reportedly hit and killed a pedestrian walking near her home on County Road, according to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies discovered Amber Smith, 36, passed out behind the wheel of her vehicle in front of a Turner business on Auburn Road, and her vehicle showed damages consistent with the crash, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office on its Facebook page.
Deputies responded at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday to a report of a woman on the ground on County Road, near Fortin Drive, with life-threatening injuries.
According to the report, Tina White, 46, was walking on the dirt shoulder facing traffic when she was hit from behind. Her injuries were consistent with a vehicle hitting her from behind while she was walking, according to the Sheriff’s Office said.
Turner Fire-Rescue and LifeFlight of Maine responded and tended to White’s injuries, but she died at the scene.
Deputies said they worked throughout the day examining evidence and conducting interviews.
Two deputies trained in crash reconstruction and forensic mapping examined the scene. As a result of the investigations, officials developed probable cause to believe Smith was the driver of the vehicle that hit White.
Smith was arrested and charged with manslaughter, a Class A offense; aggravated operating under the influence of drugs causing death, a Class B offense; and causing death while license is revoked, also a Class B offense. She was also charged on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear in court in Kennebec County.
Smith was being held Sunday at the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.
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