A 27-year-old Winslow man is recovering after police say he drove off I-295 southbound at the West Gardiner/Gardiner line and into the Cobbosseecontee Stream Sunday morning at about 7 am.
Officers say Brandon Nale fell asleep while driving a 2020 Audi Sedan, which left the roadway to the left, traveled down an embankment between the guardrails, struck a sign and a concrete barrier, and then launched into the stream.
Police say Nale was able to open the door and swim away before the vehicle sank.
He was taken to Maine General Hospital in Augusta with non-life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, police say a trooper arrived on the scene within minutes and was advised by a witness that the vehicle was submerged in the water and had not been seen since it crashed.
They say the trooper immediately entered the water in an effort to rescue the driver, and swam about seven feet down and was able to feel the vehicle but was unable to open the door due to oil in the water.
Officers say the trooper remained in the water attempting to gain access before learning that the driver had safely escaped and swam to a nearby residence.
The left lane of I-295 was shut down for about an hour during the recovery.
