PORTLAND — A truck driver from Casco has been indicted on a charge of manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, and reckless conduct with a weapon in a crash in Scarborough that killed one teenager and injured three others.

A Cumberland County grand jury indicted Nathan F. Allen, 37, of South Casco on Monday, more than four months after the crash.

Killed on the night of May 7 was Steven Delano, an 18-year-old Scarborough High School senior. He and three friends were on their way to the Gorham High School prom, which was being held at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland.

Delano was driving a white Pontiac G6 when it was hit by Allen’s empty jet fuel tanker as Delano tried to cross Payne Road in Scarborough. The tanker truck hit the driver’s side of Delano’s car, pushing it 100 feet down Payne Road into a ditch. The car then landed on its roof.

“We feel that (Allen) was reckless in failing to stop for a red light and that the car full of kids was proceeding appropriately when they were hit by the truck,” said Assistant District Attorney Bud Ellis. “He was reckless and he struck them.”

Makeshift memorials sprang up near the crash site. Senior class officers at Scarborough High asked the school’s 1,100 students to wear camouflage or flannel shirts during the school week to coincide with memorial services for Delano, who was an avid outdoorsman.

Kevin P. Grondin, who was riding in the front seat with Delano, suffered serious injuries that put him into a coma. He has since recovered.

Scarborough and Maine State Police investigated the crash. A copy of the accident report filed by investigators says Allen disregarded the intersection’s traffic signal.

According to the report, Allen was driving east on Payne Road in a truck owned by J.P. Noonan Transportation Inc. of West Bridgewater, Mass. The truck collided with Delano’s car at the intersection of Holmes Road – also known as the Scarborough Downs Road – just before 5:30 p.m.

The report identifies the passengers as Grondin, Kayla Carpenter and Julia M. Waters.

A review of Allen’s state driving record indicates the crash in May is the only blemish on his record. He has been driving since the early 1990s.

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said that if Allen is convicted of manslaughter, his office will likely initiate license suspension proceedings. A suspension could remain in effect from three to 10 years after any prison sentence, Dunlap said.

Attempts to reach Allen on Monday were unsuccessful. Delano’s parents, Cindy and Mark Delano, also could not be reached Monday.

 

Staff Writer David Hench contributed to this report.

 

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com

 

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