Woman accused of killing man at Sanford ballfield has 2 OUI convictions

SANFORD — The woman accused of killing a West Newfield man with her car after driving onto the field during a Babe Ruth baseball game at Goodall Park Friday night has two convictions for drunken driving, according to police.

Carol Sharrow, 51, of Sanford was charged with manslaughter in the death of Douglas Parkhurst, 68, of West Newfield. Coincidentally, Parkhurst confessed a few years ago to the hit-and-run death of a 4-year-old girl in Fulton, New York, in 1968, current and former police officials confirmed.

Sanford police Detective Sgt. Matthew Jones said Sharrow has a drunken-driving conviction in Maine and an aggravated drunken-driving conviction in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Jones declined to say whether alcohol was involved in Friday’s incident.

Meanwhile, a strange scene unfolded Saturday morning as police continued to investigate the ballpark killing, which has rattled this York County city of 21,000.

Maine State Police were flying a drone over the area while across the street at Benton Park children played their scheduled 9 a.m. Little League game. About 100 people turned out for the game after Sanford Little League officials put out a call to the community for support of the players. The two Sanford Fire Department emergency medical technicians who ministered to Parkhurst were also there. A Salvation Army team handed out free water and coffee.

“It’s not something you expect to happen,” said Tucker Holt, one of the EMTs who responded to the scene.

Police tape was still draped around the crumpled gates where witnesses said Sharrow tried to escape after driving onto the field. Parkhurst died en route to a local hospital, according to the Sanford police.

Witnesses to the incident posted in a Sanford community Facebook group that Parkhurst was trying to close a gate when he was hit. A video posted by a witness shows a maroon Honda sedan speeding clockwise around the bases while people run from the field and children in the stands scream.

Witnesses also said that before Sharrow entered Goodall Park, she tried to drive onto the basketball court across the street at Benton Park where children were playing, but she couldn’t get past a line of big boulders around the court.

Zachary McMurtry, 13, was on the pitcher’s mound in the fifth inning of a game against the VFW when the car drove onto the field shortly after 7 p.m. Friday.

Zachary, who plays with the Curley Associates team, said at first he was stunned.

“Everyone started screaming and for a second I froze and then realized I had to get out of there,” said Zachary, an eighth-grader.

Zachary’s mother, Lisa Thibodeau, who was in the stands, said she watched in horror as the sedan entered the field. She said Sharrow repeatedly rammed one set of closed cast-iron gates in an attempt to flee the park and then drove toward the other gate, where she hit Parkhurst.

“The coaches were awesome. They tried to get the kids out,” Thibodeau said.

Sharrow was arrested Friday night and charged with manslaughter. She is being held at the York County Jail in Alfred.

Sanford Little League officials posted on Facebook that all players who witnessed the incident were unharmed.

“We want to share our heartfelt gratitude that physically all of our players from Babe Ruth and Little League are safe and our deep sorrow to the family of the brave man that gave his life tonight protecting others,” the Facebook post said.

Sanford Schools Superintendent David Theoharides announced Saturday afternoon that counselors will be available at all schools Monday for any students who need support.

The case is under investigation by members of Sanford police and Maine State Police. The Sanford Police Department is asking anyone who has video of the events that transpired to call 207-324-9170, ext. 1. Jones said that police have two videos of the incident.

Thibodeau said the players were traumatized. Some of them came back to her house, where they lit a fire in the fireplace and talked – “to get the image out of heads,” Zachary said.

He said some of his teammates may not be ready to play at their next scheduled game on Thursday, but he is prepared to get back to the game he loves.

“I would never have thought something like this could happen,” he said.

Tim Curley, the coach and sponsor of Zachary’s team, said Sharrow was once a caregiver to his grandmother.

Curley said there were at least several heroes at the ballpark Friday night, including an umpire who tried to lure Sharrow away from the children and toward himself. Curley said he only knew the umpire’s first name, Clint.

Curley said Parkhurst was at the ballpark to watch his grandson, who was on Curley’s team.