A 15-year-old male is believed responsible for driving a stolen car at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour on Washington Road before he lost control and the vehicle went airborne into a utility pole Aug. 25, according to Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde.
Labombarde said a 2009 Dodge Challenger was stolen from a Washington Road address minutes before the accident occurred in front of 1247 Washington Rd. at 8:23 p.m. The vehicle headed south at a high rate of speed.
“The operator stated he was traveling at a speed of 120 mph when he lost control and went off the left side of the roadway,” Labombarde said.
“There was nothing with that vehicle that would make us think otherwise,” he said.
The vehicle “struck stumps and a rock which sent him airborne, hitting a utility pole and snapping it in half,” Labombarde said. “The vehicle rolled over and then came back onto its wheels before hitting a large stump and coming to a rest.”
The operator was not wearing a seat belt but was uninjured in the crash, Labombarde said.
“This kid should be dead,” Labombarde said. “Not a scratch on him.”
The juvenile left the scene and was picked up by Officer Tom Bartunek some distance down the road as he responded to the scene, Labombarde said.
Charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing, Labombarde said. Larry Hesseltine is the investigating officer.
The vehicle was purchased by the owner on Aug. 22, just days before the theft, Labombarde said.
