A Turner Woman is Struck, Killed by a Vehicle, Driver is Arrested

Officials say a driver was found unconscious behind the wheel after allegedly fatally hitting a pedestrian in Turner on Saturday.

Members of the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office responded to the County Road in Turner at approximately 10:30 Saturday morning after a local woman was found on the side of the road with life-threatening injuries. Tina White, 46, of Turner, had injuries consistent with having been hit from behind by a vehicle. Officials say she had been out walking on the dirt shoulder of the road, facing traffic, when she was struck from behind. Health crews from Turner Fire-Rescue and LifeFlight responded to the scene and tried to save White. Despite their efforts, she died at the scene.

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A short time later, dispatch received a report of a woman who was unconscious behind the wheel of her vehicle at a business on Auburn Road in Turner. Deputies responded and found Amber Smith, 36 of Sabattus passed out behind the wheel of her vehicle, which officials say had damages that were consistent with the crash. An investigation of the scene and of Smith's vehicle gave Deputies probable cause to believe that Smith was the driver of the vehicle that hit White.

Amber Smith was arrested and charged with manslaughter, aggravated operating under the influence of drugs causing death, and causing death while her license is revoked. In addition, she had an outstanding warrant out of Kennebec County for failure to appear in court. She's being held at the Androscoggin County Jail. A manslaughter conviction carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.