Kittery Police

A Topsham man is facing multiple felonies after leading police on a high-speed pursuit from Kennebunk to York. 

On Jan. 12, 2021, law enforcement received approximately 6 calls regarding an erratic driver on I-95. Trooper Lee Vanadestine, saw the white 2002 Ford Super Duty pickup that was towing a U-Hail trailer. The trooper pursued the truck which failed to stop and continued at high rates of speed through three lanes of traffic. After witnessing the vehicle nearly strike other motorists, the Trooper attempted to end the chase by disabling  the trailer, but lost control of his cruiser and crashed into the guardrail on the median, disabling the cruiser and sustaining minor injuries.

Trooper Jarrot MacKinnon became lead on the pursuit. A Kittery police officer attempted to deploy spike matts to disable the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. 

A Kittery Police Lieutenant had parked in the mile marker 4.5 crossover in an attempt to assist in the pursuit. The truck rammed the Kittery Police Cruiser while the Officer was still inside. Kittery Police Lieutenant John Desjardins received minor injuries.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as David Stoddard, 49, of Topsham. He was taken into custody, inuring Trooper MacKinnon, and transported to York Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. He will be charged with Elevated Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Reckless Conduct, Aggravated Driving to Endanger and Eluding. Lt. Desjardins, Tpr. Vanadestine, and Tpr. MacKinnon were all treated and released.

Maine State Police and Kittery and York Police were involved in pursuing an erratic vehicle, and are also investigating a fatal accident that occurred on I-95 in southern Maine. 

On Jan. 12, 2021, around 1:17 p.m.,  Maine State Police were involved in a pursuit on the Maine Turnpike southbound from Kennebunk through York which ended with the suspect crashing in the center median at approximately mile marker 4 (near the border of York and Kittery).  This event slowed and stopped traffic in both the north and southbound lanes. Authorities received at least 6 complaints of erratic operation prior to the pursuit. Three law enforcement officers received minor injuries –  two as a result of the pursuit and one while taking the driver of the erratic vehicle into custody. The driver was transported to an area hospital for minor injuries and charges are expected.

At approximately 2:11 p.m., traffic had slowed considerably and stopped in both the north and southbound lanes. A vehicle travelling in the northbound lane was struck from behind by a tractor trailer and pushed under the stopped tractor trailer in front of it. This is a fatal accident and police are working to contact next of kin, clear the scene, and reconstruct the crash. The District Attorney’s Office will review this crash once the investigation is complete. I95 Northbound will be closed until further notice and traffic is being diverted to exit 3. Please seek an alternate route.

This is all the information available at this time, we will update as more information becomes available.

The Commercial Vehicle Unit, Kittery Police Department, York Police Department, and York Fire assisted in both the pursuit and fatal incidents.