LIMERICK, Maine – An 18-year-old Limerick man was arrested for aggravated assault at 6:20 p.m. today (Saturday, Dec. 29) in connection with a hit-and-run snowmobile-pedestrian accident that seriously injured a 42-year-old man on Friday night.
Patrick Rosa, 18, of Limerick met Maine Warden Service investigators for questioning at 6 p.m. and was arrested 20 minutes later. He was transported to the York County Jail.
The investigation is not ending with Rosa’s arrest, according to MWS Investigator Phillip Dumas.
“We believe that there are others involved and the investigation is continuing,†Dumas said.
The pedestrian, Darrin Smith, 42, of Limerick, was walking his dog on the Limerick Air Field airstrip, which is behind his residence, at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday when he was struck. No aid was administered to Mr. Smith after he was hit, Dumas said.
Mr. Smith received multiple fractures, including two severely broken legs and a broken arm. He is hospitalized at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Smith’s seven-year-old daughter found her father in the snow. The Maine Warden Service was notified of the accident at 10 p.m.
Investigator Dugas said Rosa was driving a Ski-Doo Mach Z, a 1000cc machine, at an alleged high rate of speed.
“It’s a big machine,†Dugas said. “And powerful.â€
Earlier on Friday, Mr. Smith had filed a complaint with the York County Sheriff’s Office because snowmobilers were using the airstrip – a piece of property that historically was available to snowmobilers but recently was posted as off limits to sledding. Investigator Dumas said it appears that Rosa was not one of the snowmobilers that Smith complained about earlier in the day.
The Maine Warden Service and its Criminal Investigation Unit are working with the York County District Attorney’s Office, the York County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police to investigate the accident. The Limerick Fire Department was used as the investigation headquarters.
Anyone with information on the accident is asked to call the Maine State Police at 1-800-482-0730.
Posted by Tom Remington
