FAIRFIELD — A Waterville woman was operating under the influence Tuesday when the SUV she was driving failed to yield at a stop sign, nearly hit two vehicles and went through a guardrail, before ending up in Fish Brook, according to police.

Vanessa Poirier, 25, was charged with OUI, driving to endanger and failure to stop for a stop sign following the incident that occurred at about 5:30 p.m., according to Officer Casey Dugas of the Fairfield Police Department.

Police responded after several people reported a vehicle had gone into the brook at the intersection of Norridgewock Road and Center Road. Poirier was westbound on Center Road when she failed to stop at Norridgewock, according to Dugas.

Witnesses told police that Poirier was driving at high speed when she crossed over Norridgewock Road, hit the guardrail and went down an embankment into the water, Dugas said.

Although it was originally reported that Poirier was stuck inside her Toyota RAV4, she was able to exit the SUV on her own and rescue workers found her on shore. She had minor injuries and was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Center for Health in Waterville.

Poirier is scheduled to appear June 14 at Skowhegan District Court.

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