A Litchfield woman has been charged with drunken driving for the fourth time after crashing her van into trees last week in Wales.

Kristy Cookson, 33, also had her 4-year-old son in the van at the time of the crash, according to a news release from Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Cookson was charged with operating under the influence and operating after suspension after she crashed on Route 132 last Wednesday afternoon near the Sabattus town line, according to the release. The OUI charged was elevated to aggravated status because Cookson’s son was in the van.

The van veered off the road and crashed into trees. Rescue crews used a chainsaw to get to the two out of the van. Both drugs and alcohol were factors in the crash, police said.

Cookson’s son had minor injuries and was treated and released from St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston. Cookson, who was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with a serious ankle injury, was mistakenly discharged from the hospital over the weekend. Police were searching for her until she was arrested about 1 p.m. Monday at an apartment in Auburn, police said.

Cookson has 13 active driver’s license suspensions, according to the release.

Cookson was also shot by two Lewiston Police officers following a chase in 2009 through the city in her pickup truck, according to the release. Police fired when she attempted to run one of them over after the chase ended.

Cookson was still on probation in connection with that incident, so the new charges could change her probation status, police said. She’s being held at the Androscoggin County Jail.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.