SABATTUS – Police say high speed and dangerous driving were to blame for a fatal crash on Lisbon Road Tuesday night.

“They were going fast, and there was some erratic operation – possibly some clowning around,” said police Chief Tom Fales. “That was a statement of one of the passengers.”

Police suspect the driver, Christopher Clark, 19, of Augusta, was jerking the steering wheel back and forth when he lost control of the 2001 Chrysler Sebring. The car ran off the road near John Drive.

Clark was killed in the accident.

Two of his passengers, Shawn Staples, 19, of Augusta, and Damion Fincher, 18, of Gardiner, were taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and kept overnight. Hospital officials said Staples was in fair condition, while Fincher remained in critical condition on Wednesday.

The fourth passenger, Luman Barnard, 25, of Augusta, was wearing a seat belt in the front passenger seat and escaped with minor injuries. He was taken to CMMC on Tuesday night, treated and released.

Fales said police found only two of the car’s occupants – driver Clark and Fincher – when they arrived at the crash scene. Police on Tuesday feared the two others had fled the scene, but Fales said they know now that’s not the case.

“They were really disoriented, especially Staples,” Fales said. The youth was the first person police found, wandering along the road with a head injury and a broken wrist.

“Staples wasn’t even aware that he had been in an accident,” Fales said. “He had no idea what was happening, or anything else.”

Fales said Barnard had started following a snowmobile track, possibly looking for help. Police found him more than a mile away from the wreck.

The four were traveling on Lisbon Road with no particular destination in mind. Police are waiting for the results of blood tests to determine whether alcohol was involved, Fales said.