LEWISTON – One person died when a car slammed into a utility pole on Sabattus Street early Tuesday, dragging down power lines and landing on its roof in a parking lot.

For several minutes, police and rescue crews had to stand clear of the wreckage as sparks flew and explosions were heard moments after the midnight crash.

Investigators said police had been chasing the driver of a stolen white Subaru Outback shortly before the crash in front of Dubois Cafe.

The car was ripped in half and the driver was found inside. A utility pole was broken into three pieces. It was not known if the crash victim was male or female.

Several police officers were at the scene seconds after the driver lost control.

Roughly 20 minutes after the crash, rescue crews still did not have clearance to approach the vehicle, as live wires continued to spark and the utility pole burned.

Witnesses said a series of explosions that followed the crash were as loud as fireworks.

“We were sound asleep when we heard a boom,” said Pat Saucier, who lives directly in front of the crash scene. “We went outside to see what it was and there was a car on the roof. There were sparks shooting from the pole.”

Saucier said she was unable to determine what kind of car had crashed because of the extent of the damage.

“I’d be surprised if anyone got out of there,” said David Saucier, Pat’s husband.

Police were trying to track down the occupant of a nearby house in case they needed to be evacuated.

Bystanders were herded away from the crash scene as crews feared live wires and further explosions.

Rescue crews were also concerned that other poles might be dragged down as a result of fallen wires. Police were closing off a long section of Sabattus Street as well as nearby side streets as the rescue efforts continued.

Information about the chase that led to the crash was not immediately available as police remained at the scene.