Man arrested after running from scene of crash

Photo: Chuck Blaquiere

HIT AND RUN — An Oxford resident ran from the scene of a two-car collision December 12 near Hannaford. He was arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident. No one was injured.

OXFORD — An Oxford man was arrested December 12 after running from the scene of a crash near the Norway town line.

Oxford Police Lt. Michael Ward said the department received a call for an accident on Route 26. One of the drivers ran from the scene, but someone who witnessed the crash followed him and reported his whereabouts to police.

Ward found the man sprinting down Pottle Road and followed as he turned onto Webber Brook Road, then pulled in front of the man. “I asked him a couple of questions and placed him under arrest for leaving the scene."

The man was Jonathan Flanders, 20, of Chelsey Lane. Ward said Flanders had been driving north on Route 26 in his girlfriend's silver 2004 Ford Focus. Joanne Rauscher, 62, of Little Deer Isle, turned out from a side street and the cars collided. Ward said the woman was initially trapped, but managed to get herself out. Neither she nor her dog was hurt.

Flanders “said he panicked, then ran,” Ward said, leaving his 16-year-old passenger in the car. Ward said Flanders was driving without a license and will be charged with that, too.

Oxford officer James Richardson, Paris Police Chief Michael Dailey and Oxford Fire and Rescue personnel also responded to the scene.