OXFORD, Maine — A state trooper and his K-9 survived a fiery crash late Tuesday night after a brief pursuit on Route 26 in Oxford.
Around 11:11 p.m. Sgt. Jonathan Russell attempted to pull over a vehicle for "excessive speed" on Rt. 26. Russell said he believed the vehicle to be a mid-2000s Chevy or GMC with a utility body on the back, which reportedly took off down Rabbit Valley Road in Oxford, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a Wednesday release.
"With his lights and sirens activated Sgt. Russell attempted to catch up with the vehicle but being unfamiliar with the road was unable to negotiate a turn at the bottom of a hill and his cruiser left the roadway to the left and into a ditch. The cruiser rotated and ended up coming to rest nose down," the release stated.
Russell and his K-9 Preacher were able to exit the vehicle before it became fully engulfed in flames and ammunition in the back of the cruiser exploded, Moss said.
The cruiser and all equipment inside were considered a total loss. Russell suffered minor injuries from the airbag. K-9 Preacher was not injured.
The driver's identity is still unknown at this time.
Maine State Police was assisted on the scene by Norway PD, Paris PD, Oxford SO, Oxford PD, and Oxford Fire and Rescue.
