From the “Kennebec Journal,” 7/10/08:

DRESDEN — An unexpected passenger is being blamed for an Indian Road crash last week.

The 16-year-old Wiscasset driver told police following the July 1 crash that a garden snake crawled from a bag of returnable bottles in the back seat and across her shoulder, according to a Lincoln County Sheriff deputy. The surprised girl, whose name was withheld due to her age, drove her vehicle into trees off the side of the road.

The girl was not injured.

The 2002 Saturn the girl was driving sustained an estimated $4,000 in damage.

As is standard procedure for all auto accidents within town limits, Dresden FD was called to the scene. Suffice it to say, this was the first snake-related incident for most of us.