Rochester stolen truck suspect arrested in Maine after chase, crash that injures five

Red Silverado that crashed after police chase in Falmouth on Monday; inset Mary Jo Heffernon (Truck photo/MSP; inset Hefferon/Rochester Police photo)

FALMOUTH, Maine - A New Hampshire woman being sought by Rochester, N.H., police in a stolen pickup case was arrested in Maine on Monday after a separate truck she was operating led police on a chase the ended with a head-on collision with another vehicle that left five injured, two seriously.

Monday's incident unfolded on the Maine Turnpike around 11:20 a.m. when a State Trooper observed a vehicle speeding in the northbound lane at mile marker 40 in Scarborough.

The driver of the red Chevrolet Silverado work truck, stolen out of New Hampshire, refused to stop and continued at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic including in the breakdown lane, according to a police statement.

The Trooper initiated a chase but quickly terminated it at mile marker 42 due to construction and traffic congestion in the area. Police say another trooper picked up the chase at mile marker 52, eastbound on the Falmouth Spur where there was a lot less traffic.

Before State Police could deploy spike mats, however, the driver of the stolen truck entered a crossover to the westbound lanes and struck a black Honda CRV from Massachusetts head-on. The three adults in that vehicle were transported to Maine Medical Center, one of whom was reported to have serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The male passenger of the stolen truck was transported to Maine Medical Center with minor injuries, he is not being identified. The female driver, 33-year-old Mary Jo Hefferon of Farmington, N.H., was brought to Maine Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Hefferon was charged with eluding, violation of conditions of release, operating without a license, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, and receiving stolen property.

On Friday Rochester Police alerted the public to a separate theft of a 2016 Ford F150 pickup with NH tags 4131351, was stolen from Juniper Street on June 19. It's color is listed as bronze but looks maroon.

This stolen truck was seen by Kittery, Maine, police on June 21, but eluded officers as it fled the scene.

Rochester Police located the vehicle off Hansonville Road in the Disc Golf parking lot on Thursday around 1 p.m., but once the occupants saw the police cruiser they fled at a high rate of speed, police said in the Friday statement.

Police were able to identify the male and female occupants, but no pursuit was initiated. The driver was identified as 33-year-old Mary Jo Hefferon, who now has a warrant out for her arrest on felony charges of receiving stolen property, disobeying an officer and driving after suspension, both misdemeanors.

If anyone witnessed the red Chevy Silverado with two orange work lights and NH license plates driving erratically in Scarborough, Portland, or Falmouth please call Maine State Police at 207. 624. 7076.

Tipsters in the Ford pickup theft can also provide information and remain anonymous by calling the Rochester Crime Line at 603-335-6500 or Text to CRIMES (274637) Body of Text: TEXT4CASH + your tip. Cash rewards are offered for information that leads to an arrest.

Rochester Police were not immediately available for comment on this story.