Two drivers are facing charges after a collision Monday afternoon on U.S. Route 2 in Farmington, police said.

The accident is believed to have been caused by a distracted driver who was looking at a GPS, causing him to drift into the oncoming lane of traffic, said Bonnie Pomeroy, office manager for the Farmington Police Department.

William Carnell, 56, of South Portland, was driving east around 4 p.m. on U.S. 2, which is Farmington Falls Road in Farmington, in a 2005 Ford Taurus.

He drifted into the other lane and into the path of William Wylie, 32, of Sidney, said Bonnie Pomeroy, office manager for the Farmington Police Department.

Carnell received a summons for distracted driving, while Wylie was issued a criminal summons for driving with a suspended license.

“Carnell was looking at a GPS, and that’s what started him drifting,” Pomeroy said. “When he took his attention off the GPS back onto the road, he saw he was on the other side of the road and corrected; but by that time the other driver had also tried to correct it, and they ended up colliding.”

Pomeroy said she was not sure if Carnell was attempting to operate the GPS or just looking at it when the crash occurred. “It’s really not known,” she said. “He doesn’t have a clear recollection of what happened either, so all we know is he was looking at it.”

Wylie, who was driving a 2001 Saturn, was trying to turn left to avoid Carnell when the crash occurred, Pomeroy said.

Both suffered minor injuries. Carnell refused medical attention and Wylie was treated at the scene for leg pain, she said.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm

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