Woman arrested in hit-run gets suspended sentence

Dawn Sandler (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - The South Berwick woman arrested in a February hit and run accident that left three injured got a suspended sentence as part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors on Tuesday in Strafford County Superior Court.

Dawn Sandler, 49, was sentenced to 12 months in the Strafford County Jail but will not serve any time if she stays out of trouble for two years.
Court records indicate that Sandler initially did stop to help the three victims, one of whom was seriously injured, but left before police arrived the evening of Feb. 20.

Sandler was eventually arrested on March 10 and charged with three felony counts of conduct after an accident.

The pedestrian most seriously injured in the crash was Medflighted to Maine Medical Center with serious injuries, while the other two were transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital where one was treated and released and one was initially admitted.

The three individuals who were struck were identified by police as Alexander Solivan, 34, of Lawrence, Mass., and Eleanor Farrell, 26, and Amanda Demers, 28, both of Rochester.

The incident occurred on Rochester Hill Road near the Hi Vu Motor Inn while the trio were crossing the street after getting off a northbound COAST bus around 8:10 p.m., police said.

As part of the plea deal Sandler will also have to put in 150 hours of community service and take a driving class.