Man charged in Presque Isle hit-and-run

PRESQUE ISLE – A local man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a hit-and-run accident over the weekend that claimed a Presque Isle woman’s life, according to a Presque Isle police officer.

Bradley L. Pelham, 48, of Presque Isle was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident, according to Officer Kevin Schumacher.

More charges may be pending, Schumacher said Tuesday.

Pelham was charged in connection with the death of Susan Rundle, 50, who suffered massive head and internal injuries from the accident and died on Sunday after she underwent emergency surgery at The Aroostook Medical Center.

Pelham, who was arrested without incident, made personal recognizance bail soon after he was taken to the police department for processing. His arrest was arranged through his attorney, Hal Stewart of Presque Isle, Schumacher said.

Pelham is scheduled to make his first appearance on March 17 at Presque Isle District Court.

The charge stems from a hit-and-run accident that occurred on Sunday afternoon, when Pelham allegedly slammed his 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck into the rear of a 2002 Honda Civic driven by Rundle.

The impact caused Rundle’s vehicle to leave the road and crash head-on into a large tree, police said on Monday.

Rundle was on her way to the grocery store at the time of the accident, according to a family member.

Police said Pelham left the scene of the accident. They found him and his truck approximately one hour later at his residence, investigating officer Sgt. Joey Seeley said on Monday.

Seeley declined to comment Tuesday on what caused Pelham to strike Rundle’s car, why he left the scene of the accident or how they located him, because the case is still under investigation.

The sergeant would not indicate whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash, but did say that road conditions were not a factor.

Police are waiting for blood tests to come back from the state Medical Examiner’s Office and for a reconstruction report from the Maine State Police.

Carrie Linthicum, assistant district attorney in Presque Isle, said Tuesday that the charge was made at this time because investigators had collected enough information to prove there was probable cause that Pelham left the scene of the accident.

Linthicum said Pelham won’t be indicted at this time, but that “chances are good that he’s going to be indicted.”

“Because it’s a felony charge, it should be presented to the grand jury at some point,” she said.

The grand jury convenes on Thursday.