SACO — An arrest has been made in relation to a reported hit-and-run accident Saturday morning that seriously injured a Saco woman.

Leo Bedard, 45, of 46 Ocean Park Road, was taken into custody Monday, and is facing charges in relation to the incident, which occurred at about 10 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Ferry Road and Ocean Greens Drive. The pedestrian who was struck was 87-year-old Jewell Friedman of Saco. She was transported to Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and later transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Friedman was in “very serious condition” Saturday, said Police Chief Bradley Paul. No update on her condition was available as of press time.

According to a statement from the police department, it was reported that the car that struck Friedman did not stop after the collision. On Saturday around 5:15 p.m., in response to a phone call, Saco officers located and seized a white pickup truck on Ocean Park Road. The truck had tool boxes mounted on the bed, as witnesses described, lettering on the doors, and damage consistent with evidence left at the scene of the accident, police reported.

Bedard was consequently arrested on four outstanding warrants, including violating conditions of release, operating after license was suspended or revoked, and failure to appear. Bedard has also been charged and arraigned in the District Court in Springvale for leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. Bail was set at $75,000 single surety or $25,000 cash. He did not make bail and is being held at York County Jail in Alfred, according to Paul.

Additional restrictions forbid any contact with Friedman or her family, and prohibit Bedard from driving a vehicle.

Paul said police are still investigating the accident, conducting interviews and reviewing evidence. There may be additional charges in the future, said Paul.

Friedman’s husband, Donald, died in February of this year, according to an obituary on the Dignity Memorial website. The University of Connecticut journalism department has an annual award in honor of the couple, set up in 1976 by coworkers and friends of Donald Friedman, after he retired from the university as director of public information, according to information from the university.

Jewell Friedman had a long career in journalism as well, and met her husband while they both worked for the Manchester Evening Herald in Connecticut. She also served as the legislative liaison for the University of Connecticut, according to information from the university, established the Franconia Heritage Museum and is working on a historical novel about Franconia.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].