FAIRFIELD — Police continued the search Monday for a hit-and-run driver who they say destroyed another vehicle in front of a police officer and fled the scene late last week.

Joseph Jenness, 62, was turning his 2005 Ford Mustang left from Norridgewock Road onto Old Schoolhouse Road a little past 10 p.m. Friday when he was struck from behind by a pickup truck, according to Chief Thomas Gould, of the Fairfield police.

The impact knocked Jenness’s Mustang into a tree and destroyed the car.

“It kind of flung the Mustang down the Schoolhouse Road,” Gould said. “It slid into a ditch and hit the tree.”

The Mustang nearly hit a squad car being driven by Fairfield Officer Shanna Blodgett, who heard but did not see the crash, Gould said.

Blodgett immediately left her vehicle and checked Jenness, who was uninjured.

Afterward, she realized that the pickup truck was gone, Gould said.

A woman who witnessed the accident told Blodgett the pickup truck that struck the Mustang never stopped and headed toward Norridgewock, Gould said.

Other witnesses said the truck was speeding and passing other cars inappropriately in the minutes before the accident, according to Gould.

Gould said police are searching for the vehicle, which was described as a dark pickup truck, possibly a Ford F-150, with an extended cab.

“It should show significant front-end damage,” Gould said.

Gould asked anyone with information about the vehicle to call 453-9321.

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling — 861-9287
mhhetling@centralmaine.com