STANDISH

Local man killed in crash; alcohol, speed suspected

A 32-year-old local man was killed in a car accident Saturday night on River Road in Standish.

Robert S. Libby was driving a 1999 Mercury Sedan when he went off the road at the 600 block of River Road and struck several trees.

Deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 10:13 p.m. and found Libby lying in a field about 25 yards from where his vehicle stopped.

Libby, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle. Standish emergency personnel treated Libby at the scene and took him to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

The sheriff’s office is investigating the accident. Sgt. Jim Estabrook said it appears that speed and alcohol contributed to the crash.

There were no passengers in the vehicle.

The crash was the second fatal accident in Standish in the past week. A two-car crash on March 14 that killed a Windham woman was the result of drinking and speeding, and some of the people involved weren’t using seat belts.

CASCO

Teen driver flees police, hits deer, runs out of gas

A teenager who led county police on a high-speed pursuit through three communities early Sunday morning was apprehended after his Ford pickup truck ran out of gas.

Capt. Jeff Davis said 18-year-old Dana S. Manchester of Casco was charged with eluding a police officer, operating after suspension, and displaying improper license plates. Manchester was also charged with several outstanding traffic-related arrest warrants.

The pursuit began around 2 a.m. at Poland Spring and Meadow roads in Casco after Deputy Andrew Feeney unsuccessfully tried to pull Manchester over.

Feeney pursued Manchester for 22 miles, racing through the towns of Casco, Otisfield and Harrison and reaching speeds of more than 90 miles per hour, according to Davis.

Manchester’s truck struck a deer during the chase, but was able to continue until it ran out of gas in Harrison. Manchester fled on foot before he was apprehended by Feeney.

Manchester was being held Sunday night at the Cumberland County Jail on $500 cash bail.

Motorcyclist seriously hurt in head-on crash with car

A head-on collision between a motorcycle and a car late Saturday night left the motorcyclist with serious injuries, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department said.

Capt. Jeff Davis said inexperience may have contributed to the crash, which involved 47-year-old Mark Leach.

Police said Leach’s 1996 Honda motorcycle crossed the center line on Meadow Road in Casco, striking a 1994 Ford Escort driven by 52-year-old Mark Valsecchi of Otisfield.

Davis said that Leach suffered a possible broken pelvis and back injuries. He was listed in serious condition Sunday night by a spokesperson at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

The accident took place at 10:45 p.m.

BIDDEFORD

Former mayor will run as write-in for governor

Former Mayor Donna J. Dion has formally declared as a write-in candidate for governor in the Democratic primary on June 8.

Dion announced Sunday that she was unable to obtain 2,000 valid voter signatures by the March 15 deadline.

“It was devastating (not to get on the ballot), but when you think about it, we ran my campaign with $3,000 and no paid staff,” Dion said Sunday night.

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