ALBION — A Unity man who reportedly walked away Friday from the scene of a fatal crash in Albion is facing several charges, including causing a death while driving with a suspended license, according to officials.
Stephen Bard, 51, has been identified as the driver of a pickup truck that collided with a van at the intersection of Belfast and Unity roads at about 3 p.m., according to an affidavit filed by Deputy Racean Wood of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash killed one person and injured another, who was flown by a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to a Waterville hospital for treatment, Albion Fire Chief Andrew Clark said.
Officials with the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office have not released information on the crash or the identities of those involved.
Sheriff Ken Mason said Monday the crash was still under investigation and would be discussed Tuesday with Maeghan Maloney, the district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties.
Court filings indicate Bard is being charged with causing serious bodily injury or death while his license was suspended, aggravated leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, causing death while operating under the influence and operating while his license was suspended or revoked.
The most serious charges are causing serious bodily injury or death while driving with a suspended license and causing death while operating under the influence, which are Class B offenses punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
According to the affidavit, a sheriff’s deputy arrived at the crash scene and found a Ford pickup truck heavily damaged in the driveway of a private residence, and a van, also heavily damaged, in a ditch.
The deputy said the driver of the van was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by rescue workers.
The deputy also said he did not see the driver of the pickup truck at the crash scene, according to the affidavit. A check of the registration determined the truck was registered to Bard.
A witness told police a man had walked away from the crash and into the woods behind a residence near the wrecked pickup truck, according to the affidavit.
Bard was found in neighboring Unity a short time later and detained by police. He was then brought back to the crash scene, where the witness reportedly confirmed he was the man she saw leaving the scene.
Another witness told police the van was on Belfast Road and came to a stop at the intersection with Unity Road, then turned left onto Unity Road, where it was hit by the pickup truck, which was traveling northbound on Unity Road.
Maloney, who said she responded to the crash scene Friday evening, confirmed Sunday that one person had been killed, another injured and a third arrested. She said the crash would be reconstructed by police.
Bard was taken to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta and has posted bail.
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