One Bangor man is dead and another was arrested after a police chase that ended in a crash on Saturday night in the Washington County town of Wesley.
The incident started at about 6:40 p.m. when a deputy parked on Route 9 in the Hancock County town of Aurora saw a car with “mechanical defects” speed by in the wrong lane, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The deputy tried to pull over the driver, who allegedly stopped briefly before speeding away, according to the sheriff’s office.
The chase continued east on Route 9 through several towns and townships crossing into Washington County before the driver crashed in the town of Wesley.
Three of the occupants, including the driver James Nile, 21, Caleigh Caine, 19, and Tony Cathcart, 25, all of Bangor, fled the scene. A fourth, John Branscomb, 39, of Bangor, died as a result of his injuries.
Over the next 16 hours, police apprehended all three people who fled and provided medical attention, according to the sheriff’s office.
Nile was arrested and brought to the Hancock County Jail where he was charged with aggravated eluding, a Class B felony; aggravated driving to endanger, a Class C felony; and operating after suspension, a misdemeanor.
Nile was on probation for burglary at the time of his arrest and is being held for violating conditions of his probation, according to police. He has been provided a date to appear in Ellsworth District Court.
