A Westbrook man who crashed into a bus in Scarborough on Saturday during a police chase that originated in Westbrook died of his injuries Sunday.
Police said that at about 6 a.m. on Sept. 9, Michael Churchill, 20, who had a warrant for his arrest on seven counts of theft, ran a red light and crashed into a bus carrying the University of Southern Maine track team. The car was stuck under the bus, and both Churchill and his passenger, Robert Swan, 18, of Westbrook, were trapped.
Both men were hospitalized with severe injuries. Churchill, described by his family as “a sweet kid,” died Sunday night. Maine Medical Center was unable to provide an update on Swan’s condition by deadline Wednesday.
At about 5 a.m. Saturday, the department received a call that a white car was doing doughnuts on Cross Street, according to Westbrook Police Chief Paul McCarthy. About an hour later, Sgt. Michael Nugent saw a white car U-turn, squealing its tires near Saco Street. McCarthy said the series of events that included a chase and ended with the accident was approximately one minute in length.
McCarthy gave the following account of the events:
After seeing the white car do a U-turn, Nugent gave chase. When the car crossed the town line into Scarborough, the driver passed another car, putting one car between him and Nugent. Nugent lost sight of the white car, turned on his lights and accelerated to catch up. He passed the car between them and came within 200 yards of the white car, which was traveling at an excessive speed.
At a curve just beyond Brackett Street, the driver lost control, skidded onto the side of the road and eventually regained control.
“We believe at that time the car became aware of the police. We think he became aware of us because he accelerated to a greater speed,” said McCarthy.
Immediately after that, the driver ran the red light at Saco Street and Route 22. Nugent went through the light at approximately 60 miles per hour, around the curve and lost sight of the vehicle. Once he regained sight, the car went through the red light at Saco Street and Gorham Road, hitting the bus.
“The sedan went completely under the bus,” said McCarthy. The car was under the middle of the bus and was dragged sideways until the bus stopped, he added.
According to Westbrook police policy, officers are allowed to give chase under certain circumstances. They have to take into account variables such as light and weather conditions, and are restricted to going no more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit.
“If circumstances become too dangerous or the chase goes on too long, the supervisor will order the chase ended,” said McCarthy.
The track team was on a Cyr bus driven by 52-year-old Lawrence Churchill of Farmington. According to Scarborough police, the team was on its way to a meet in Connecticut. The driver and five students sustained minor injuries.
Michael Churchill was born in Portland to Michael and Ellen Burnham Churchill. He was educated in Westbrook schools, and lived there all his life. According to members of his family, he was a pleasant, friendly person.
Wendy Churchill, an aunt, said “Mikey” loved to play sports and be with his family.
“Every time you saw him, he was just a regular kid,” she said. “He loved to play sports and hang out with his cousins.”
Churchill said her nephew played baseball in elementary and junior high school and loved to talk sports with her husband, his uncle, Scott Churchill. She wasn’t sure whether he had finished high school, but thought he had either gotten or was planning to get his GED. She didn’t know what his plans were after high school.
Another uncle, Stephen Churchill, declined to talk about his nephew, but his partner, Amy Gorwood, said Churchill was an artistic person who loved writing and drawing. Gorwood said Churchill was an amicable person who had a lot of friends. She said he didn’t have a girlfriend at the time of his death, but had in the past.
“He was a good person. He got along with pretty much anybody,” she said. “He was always happy. Nothing seemed to bother him.”
Gorwood said she didn’t know anything about warrants for his arrest.
“He was a sweet kid. That’s all I can say,” said a cousin, Charlene Nappi.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, followed by interment at St. Hyacinth Cemetery.
Staff Writer Erica Thoits contributed to this story.
At the aftermath of a fatal car crash, the car driven by the victim, Michael Churchill, 20, of Westbrook, is a crumpled heap atop the wrecker.
Police chase ends in deadly crash
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