A 27-year-old Lewiston man was hospitalized after a car wreck early Sunday in West Gardiner.

State police Trooper Seth Allen said Sunday that Christopher Ellis, 27, apparently was headed to work in Lewiston from a friend’s house when Ellis fell asleep behind the wheel and his car hit a tree around 6 a.m. near the intersection of High Street and Hallowell-Litchfield Road in West Gardiner.

West Gardiner firefighters douse the remaining flames in an overturned burning sport-utility vehicle Sunday near the intersection of High Street and Hallowell-Litchfield Road in West Gardiner. The vehicle caught fire after striking a tree about 6 a.m. while its driver was on his way to work. Courtesy of West Gardiner Fire Department

“He hit a tree and inverted the car,” Allen said.

The sport utility vehicle ended up on its font end lodged between two trees, and it caught fire.

Allen said Ellis was able to get out of the car, but a neighbor dragged him away from the burning wreck.

Ellis was alone in the vehicle.

West Gardiner Fire Chief Gary Hickey II said a significant area around the crashed vehicle burned. The crash was reported by different callers as a structure fire on Hallowell-Litchfield Road and a crash on High Street, he said. His crew was split between administering aid to Ellis and putting out the fire.

Allen said because of the front-end damage and the fire, the vehicle is a total loss. The towing company that was called had to wait for the wreck to cool off before it could be towed away.

Allen said the results of toxicology tests on Ellis are pending.

Ellis was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center by Gardiner Rescue, where a hospital spokesperson said Ellis was listed in good condition Sunday afternoon.

Jessica Lowell — 621-5632

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @JLowellKJ

Related Stories