Chesterville man injured in car crash facing charges

FARMINGTON — Police said a Chesterville man was injured early Monday when he attempted to outrun police in two counties and crashed his car off Burough Road in Chesterville.

Dillian Burnham, 23, faces six charges including escape, Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said in a news release.

Deputy Andrew Morgan charged Burnham at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington with felonies of escape and eluding an officer, and misdemeanors of operating under the influence, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, driving to endanger and violation of conditions of release, Nichols said.

The Livermore Fall Police Department also has charges pending against Burnham, police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said.

Morgan stopped a black 2002 Oldsmobile car for a speeding violation at about 2 a.m. on Ridge Road in Chesterville. Morgan determined the driver, who identified as Burnham, may have been driving under the influence of alcohol, Nichols said.

Morgan conducted a field sobriety test which confirmed his suspicion. Burnham resisted arrest, escaped to his vehicle and fled the scene, Nichols said.

Morgan chased Burnham, who turned onto Norcross Hill Road in Chesterville, but lost sight of the vehicle and alerted state police and police in Jay, Livermore Falls and Wilton to look out for it.

Livermore Falls Sgt. Vernon Stevens spotted the vehicle at about 2:23 a.m. near the Chuck Wagon Restaurant on Main Street, Steward said.

Stevens chased the vehicle through Jay to the Old Jay Hill Road, Woodman Hill Road and Route 133 into East Jay. Stevens eventually found the vehicle crashed of Borough Road in Chesterville, Steward said.

Burnham was extricated from his car by Chesterville firefighters, Nichols said. The driver was taken by a NorthStar EMS ambulance to Franklin Memorial Hospital because of injuries received in the crash, Nichols said.

Burnham was transferred to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, an FMH spokeswoman said. He was listed in good condition early Monday afternoon, a CMMC spokeswoman said.

The car was a total loss, Nichols said.

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