High-Speed Pursuit in Maine Concludes with Amish Wagon Accident
An intense police pursuit in a remote region of Maine culminated unexpectedly when a suspect’s vehicle collided with a horse-drawn Amish wagon, carrying six children. Remarkably, there were no injuries reported, despite the high speeds involved and the nature of the crash.
According to reports, the incident began when law enforcement officers spotted 34-year-old Anthony Vangel of Easton in the parking lot of the Aroostook Mall in Presque Isle around 7:30 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. Vangel was wanted on multiple serious charges, including failure to report to the Aroostook County Jail. His arrest warrants stemmed from allegations of aggravated firearm trafficking, burglary, theft, forgery, and bail violations.
Police attempted to apprehend Vangel as he attempted to flee the scene. A high-speed chase ensued, with speeds reaching up to 90 miles per hour. Authorities made the decision to call off the pursuit on Fort Road due to the dangerous speeds, which posed a significant risk to public safety.
However, shortly after abandoning the chase, police reported that Vangel lost control of his vehicle. His car spun uncontrollably on the roadway and struck an Amish wagon carrying six children. The wagon was described as a “wagon” rather than a full-sized buggy, which suggests it might have been a smaller, perhaps more traditional Amish cart. Despite the severity of the collision, no injuries were sustained by the children, the driver, or the horse involved.
One eyewitness commented, “It’s fortunate that no one was hurt, especially considering the speeds involved and the nature of the crash.” Authorities believe that Vangel, who was in pursuit, probably slowed down before the collision, but the high initial speed of 90 MPH made it difficult to control the vehicle and avoid the accident. A local report added details that Vangel’s vehicle spun on the roadway after the pursuit ended, further emphasizing the loss of control during the incident.
Vangel was subsequently arrested and faced multiple charges, including operating after suspension, operating under the influence, eluding law enforcement, driving to endanger, refusing to submit to arrest, criminal speed, failure to report, and violation of bail. The incident took place in Presque Isle, located within Aroostook County, a notably vast region larger than three states combined. This county is home to four Amish communities, with the local group in this area associated with the towns of Fort Fairfield and Easton, belonging to a conservative Swartzentruber Amish faction.
See also: The Amish Bishop with Churches in Two Countries