YORK, Maine — After a reported four-car crash, police say they arrested a Maine man who fled naked from the accident scene Friday afternoon.
Police arrested Richard F. Stickney III, 34, of Saco, charging him with driving to endanger, operating under the influence of drugs, failure to submit to arrest or detention, leaving the scene of a crash, and failure to stop at a red light.
According to a news release issued by Sgt. Brian Curtin, at 3:24 p.m., a York ambulance driver reported a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 1 and the Spur Road intersection. The report was a four-car crash with one vehicle ending up in the trees along the roadway.
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Police say they also received several 911 calls, some reporting that a male had fled the scene and was running south on Route 1, naked.
York Police Lt. Owen Davis located the man, later identified as Stickney running by the Irving Station on Route 1, according to the release. He attempted to run from Davis and was apprehended in the area of Key Ford after a short foot chase with the help of a Good Samaritan who stepped in to help, according to police. Stickney was transported to York Hospital for evaluation.
The initial investigation indicates that Stickney was allegedly driving a silver 2007 GMC pickup truck south on Route 1. As his vehicle approached the intersection with Spur Road the southbound traffic was stopped due to a red traffic light, according to police. Stickney allegedly attempted to squeeze between stopped cars in his truck striking three other cars.
One of those collisions caused Stickney’s truck to break its steering mechanism but he continued through the intersection in spite of not being able to steer, police say. His truck left the roadway and crashed into some small trees on the south side of the intersection, according to police.
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Stickney then allegedly fled the scene running south through a small group of trees. At some point, police say he removed his clothing and footwear.
There were no injuries and only minor damages in two of the other vehicles, but more significant damage to Stickney’s truck and one of the cars he struck, according to police. The other vehicles were a Blue 2007 Dodge truck operated by Seth Palmiter of Westminster, New York, a 2013 Red VW operated by Linda Flowers of Cape Neddick and a 2013 White Kia operated by Whitney Nelsen of York.
Stickney will appear in York District Court on Feb. 19, 2019. A police spokesperson said he was issued a summons and may be released on bail until his court date. As of press time he was still under evaluation at York Hospital.