FARMINGTON — A Wyman Township teenager denied Wednesday that he attempted to outrun a county deputy on Route 4 on May 27 that led to a crash that injured the boy and caused thousands of dollars in damage.
According to a crash report filed by Farmington Police Department, Jonathan R. Theriault, 17, was the driver and sole occupant of the Ford truck that failed to negotiate a corner on Route 4 and went off the roadway. The truck struck a tree, a road sign and two parked vehicles before it rolled onto its roof on Route 4. Six vehicles in all appeared to be damaged in the incident, according to the report.
Theriault, initially believed to have been from Eustis, entered a denial to a felony charge of eluding an officer on Wednesday in Juvenile Court in Farmington, according to court documents. The boy was also charged with two misdemeanors of driving to endanger, filed by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and Farmington Police Department. Since the boy is a juvenile and the charges are misdemeanors, any action related to them is not available for public viewing.
The teen was accused of driving erratically down Route 27 from the Eustis area and passing vehicles on the left and right at high speed.
Franklin County deputy Kevin Hartley encountered the truck and was nearly hit head-on as it turned onto Route 4 in Farmington by way of the entrance lane to Route 27. Hartley turned his cruiser around and tried to get the truck to stop, but it continued at high speed, heading toward downtown Farmington. At one point, its speed was recorded at 75 mph in a 30-mph zone, Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. previously said.
The driver lost control of the truck near the World War I monument and the truck struck a fence, a tree, two SUVs and a pickup truck in a parking lot before it rolled over and hit a highway sign, propelling it through the windshield of another car, Nichols previously said.
The teenager’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 6, according to court documents.
Theriault’s conditions of release are that he reside with a parent and abide by all rules of that parent.
He is required to submit to personal search or test for possession or use of drugs and alcohol. He also is required to receive regular medical treatment and counseling as recommended.
The teen can operate a vehicle only with permission of a parent.
The 2002 truck Theriault was driving was owned by Richard B. Theriault of Fort Kent.
Other vehicles damaged in the incident were two owned by Acme Land Surveying of Farmington, and one each owned by Michael Churchill of Kingfield, Peter Cook of Starks and Beth Childs of Chesterville.
Carrabassett Valley Police Department initially considered charging the boy for damaging two dirt driveways, but the teen instead paid restitution to the property owners for the damage, Deputy Chief Randy Walker said Thursday.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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