Borrowed Corvette sinks in marsh, driver arrested in Wells

A 56-year-old Massachusetts man’s evening cruise through Wells in a Corvette ended in automotive heartbreak Sunday, when the muscle car apparently left Bourne Avenue before coming to rest in about 2 feet of swampy saltwater, according to police.

Police still do not know what caused Philip G. Aleo of Malden, Massachusetts, to lose control of the 1971, rally-red Stingray, but when a fire crew was called to the scene about 6:15 p.m., Aleo was stranded on the back of the car, waiting to be rescued.

Officers checked Aleo’s license and found that he had an outstanding arrest warrant issued in York County Superior Court, where he had allegedly failed to appear and owed fines. He was arrested and released on $711.60 bail, according to Wells police Lt. Jerry Congdon.

The Corvette, which was registered in Massachusetts, did not belong to Aleo and was borrowed, Congdon said. The car, valued at about $20,000, was nearly completely submerged when a tow company pulled it from the marsh.

“Not only did he ruin a friend’s car, he also got arrested. So it was not his best day,” Congdon said. “I imagine someone’s crying.”

Matt Byrne can be reached at 791-6303, or at:

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