LEWISTON – A teenager killed in an early morning crash on Sabattus Street was driving a car stolen from a school in Wales hours earlier.

Ryan Quinn, 15, of Litchfield was killed when the Subaru Outback he was driving sheared through a utility pole and ripped in half. The crash occurred just beyond Old Greene Road.

Investigators believe Quinn was likely killed instantly after striking the pole at approximately 70 mph.

At the time of the 12:15 a.m. wreck, Lewiston police were trying to stop the car after it was reported stolen from Oak Hill High School late Monday. Quinn was a student at the school.

The chase had covered roughly 3 miles in approximately 10 minutes before Quinn lost control of the car in front of Dubois Cafe.

The utility pole was broken into three pieces in the crash. Wires were ripped down and witnesses reported hearing numerous explosions from the electrical equipment.

“It lit up the sky,” said David Saucier, who lives near the crash scene.

Rescue crews were not able to reach the mangled car for more than 20 minutes because of the downed power lines.

On Tuesday afternoon, police were investigating the crash and the circumstances that led to it. Police also contacted Quinn’s family and expected to meet with them.

“It’s just a tragedy,” said Police Chief William Welch. “It’s every parent’s nightmare.”

Investigators said the 2004 Outback had been stolen from Oak Hill Monday after the keys were left in the vehicle.

Around midnight, a police officer spotted the car at Lisbon Street and East Avenue being driven without taillights. Moments after the officer attempted to stop the car, he received a police bulletin alerting him that the car was stolen.

Police said it appeared the driver of the car was going to pull over at Lisbon Street and South Avenue, but he sped off and drove down several side streets. The chase continued onto Pleasant Street, back to East Avenue and eventually to Sabattus Street.

Welch said other officers had joined the pursuit and that they were communicating with supervisors to decide whether to continue the chase or call it off. They were also trying to contact Sabattus police to advise them that the stolen car was being driven toward that town.

“We have a strict policy on pursuits,” Welch said. “At any point, the supervisor can choose to end a chase.”

Before police could lay down a spike mat to puncture the tires on the stolen car and slow it down, the driver had lost control and crashed.

The chief said a two-pronged investigation will attempt to determine what led to the wreck and how the pursuit was handled. He added that all indications are that the officers involved acted appropriately.

“We just want to be real sure,” he said.

Maine State Police assisted with a reconstruction of the crash scene. Investigators will listen to recorded communications between police and dispatchers made while the pursuit was in progress, Welch said.

There has not been a fatal crash as a result of a police chase in Lewiston in about 30 years, police said. Several factors were involved when officers decided to go after the Subaru early Tuesday. Police said the fact that the car was stolen, and that they had no idea who was driving it, compelled them to try to make the stop.

Police did not identify the owner of the stolen car. It was believed the Subaru belonged to a friend of Quinn’s family.

It was unknown why Quinn was in downtown Lewiston around midnight. Those who know him described the teen as a good kid with a rebellious streak.