Weather postpones hearing for Rockport man accused of killing pedestrian, fleeing scene

ROCKLAND, Maine — The initial court appearance for a Rockport man accused of driving drunk, striking and killing a pedestrian on Friday night and then leaving the scene without stopping has been postponed.

Jeremy S. Stone, 40, remained held at the Knox County Jail in Rockland Monday in lieu of $11,000 cash bail. Stone was scheduled to make his initial appearance in court Monday afternoon on charges of felony operating under the influence and felony leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and two outstanding warrants for unpaid fines out of Waldo County courts. The appearance has been postponed until Wednesday because of Monday’s snowstorm.

The victim — Daniel Cormier, 35, of Rockland and Owls Head — was declared dead upon arrival at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Rockland Police Chief Bruce Boucher said Monday that witnesses say Cormier and two other people were walking south on Camden Street near the Pizza Hut when he was struck at about 5:30 p.m. by the Jeep Cherokee driven by Stone.

Rain was falling and it was dark at the time. Cormier was wearing dark clothes and walking with his back to traffic, the chief said.

There is no sidewalk on that side of Camden Street, also known as Route 1. The sidewalk on the other side of the street was plowed.

One witness, Bradley Rackliff, said he was looking at a pickup truck at Fuller Chevrolet-GMC Truck while waiting for his order at the adjacent Chinese restaurant when he heard a man and a woman talking across the street. He said he then heard a loud thud, like a car striking a big pothole.

Rackliff said he then heard a woman scream, saw the man land on the road and the driver of the vehicle continue.

Rockland police Sgt. Donald Finnegan said other witnesses were able to provide a description of the vehicle, which led to Stone being arrested at a residence in Rockland. The vehicle was seized.

Rockport police and Maine State Police assisted in the investigation.

A review of Bangor Daily News archives shows Stone was fined $250 in Belfast District Court in 2008 for operating a motor vehicle while his license was suspended or revoked. He was living in Searsmont at that time.