Car accident ignites fire at Lewiston bottle redemption center and driver faces charges

A Lewiston building has been deemed uninhabitable following a car crashing into it during a police pursuit, causing a fire early on Friday. Firefighters rushed to Lisbon Street around 1:15 a.m. in response to a report of a car colliding with the MT Bottle Redemption. Upon realizing that the building was ablaze, emergency crews arrived promptly within four minutes of the initial notification to extinguish the fire. The fire department shared an image depicting significant damage to two walls of the structure inflicted by a blue sedan crashing into the corner. Concerns arose over the building's stability due to the impact. The vehicle itself also sustained considerable harm. The incident began when the police attempted to halt a Ford Fiesta for speeding at approximately 1:11 a.m.; however, the driver, Christian Grenier from Waterville, accelerated away. Subsequently, a brief chase through Pleasant Street ensued, reaching speeds of up to 80 mph before concluding with the car colliding with the redemption center. Grenier, who has a history of offenses in Waterville, was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for serious injuries prior to being charged with multiple offenses. The redemption center's owner, Tara Weeks, expressed plans to await building and insurance assessments before deciding on the next course of action for the damaged property. As of late Friday morning, the affected building had been secured with temporary boarding.