Teen badly hurt when ATV crashes trying to flee police at Mid-Town Mall

SANFORD - An unidentified teenager was seriously injured early Monday when his ATV crashed at Mid Town Mall while trying to escape police attempting a traffic stop.

The incident occurred a little after 2 a.m. when a Sanford Police Officer observed two ATVs traveling south on Main Street by Twombley Road.

The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop but both ATVs bolted, turning into the Mid-Town Mall parking area where they traveled at a high rate of speed.

The lead ATV struck some curbing in the parking lot and the operator lost control, striking a post located on the sidewalk by the Family Dollar Store.

Sanford Fire transported the 19-year old male operator to Southern Maine Health Care, Sanford Campus where he was Medflighted to Maine Med for a head injury. The teen was not wearing a helmet.

The ATV crash is under investigation.

Police did not initially indicate whether the second ATV operator had been caught or cited.