AUGUSTA, Maine — A Gardiner man was arrested early Tuesday morning in connection with a fatal accident in Readfield last fall in which he was the driver, according to the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.
Thorr Ellis, 21, who was driving in a Nov. 5 accident that killed Alex Cruz, 26, of Connecticut, is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, Chief Deputy Ryan Reardon said.
In addition to the Class A manslaughter charge, Ellis is also accused of aggravated driving to endanger, a Class C felony, and aggravated assault, a Class B felony, Reardon said.
Ellis was behind the wheel in a single-vehicle crash on Plains Road, and Cruz was ejected from the vehicle as it was traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle clipped several trees and struck a large rock, the chief deputy said.
After an investigation into the crash, police had an affidavit based on the evidence to arrest Ellis, but when Sgt. Frank Hatch showed up at his home on Tuesday, he fled, Reardon said.
After a pursuit on foot that lasted less than half a mile, a state police canine team found Ellis hiding in the woods and he was arrested.
Ellis was taken to the Kennebec County Jail, where his bail was set at $200,000 cash.
Ellis faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter, 10 years on the aggravated assault charge and five years on the driving to endanger charge.
