LUBEC — William J. Feltner, 31, of Lubec was arraigned Wednesday on two felony charges after a high-speed chase in the Lubec-Whiting area Tuesday night.
The incident started at 8 p.m. with a report of a collision on Crow’s Neck Road in Lubec and ended about 15 minutes later on Route 1 in Edmunds when Feltner drove his pickup truck into a ditch after ramming a truck belonging to a Washington County sheriff’s deputy.
Joining Lubec police and the Sheriff’s Department in the pursuit were units from the Maine State Police.
With three law-enforcement agencies involved and three scenes to investigate, Lubec Police Chief Scott Inman said Wednesday all the details were still being pulled together.
“But it started with a report of a vehicle running into an unoccupied vehicle on Crow’s Neck Road,” Inman said. “I responded, attempted to stop Mr. Feltner, he did not do so, so I gave chase.”
Inman pursued Feltner to Edmunds, “where I turned back because I felt the high speeds were endangering other vehicles on the road and because, by that time, we had units converging from all directions.” Inman said Feltner reached speeds of at least 85 miles per hour.
Sheriff’s Deputy Lester Seeley had been dispatched to Route 1 with instructions to intercept Feltner at the bridge in Edmunds. Seeley said Wednesday he realized he would not have time to make it to the bridge, “so I pulled into the parking lot at the rest area. I was backing around so I could follow him, had my blue light going, when I saw him coming with no lights on. He cut across the road right at me, so I threw it into reverse, and he still came right at me.” Feltner clipped the front of Seeley’s truck and continued north. Seeley was not injured.
A short distance down the road, Feltner turned around and passed Seeley again. Feltner lost control of his truck about two miles after passing Seeley and drove into a ditch. Feltner was removed from his truck by police and taken to Downeast Community Hospital in Machias, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
He was arraigned Wednesday on charges of criminal speeding and of eluding and passing a roadblock, both Class C felonies, and on a misdemeanor charge of running a stop sign.
Other charges, including driving while intoxicated, are being considered, Inman said. Feltner was released on bail, and a probable cause hearing has been set for May 30.
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