On Wednesday morning, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigating a hit-and-run crash in the town of Standish determined the vehicle involved in the crash that fled the scene was a stolen motor vehicle.

The blue 2001 Buick Century four-door sedan had been stolen by a male, who was identified as Christopher Wade Hunt, 33, of 36 Jones Road, Harrison, according to a press release issued Thursday by Capt. Don Goulet.

Two sheriff’s deputies located the vehicle driven by Hunt on Route 302 in Naples at 10:30 a.m. Hunt refused to stop and fled at speeds reaching 100 mph into oncoming traffic creating a significant risk to the public’s safety. The attempts to apprehend Hunt and recover the stolen car were terminated, Goulet said.

An hour and a half later, Hunt was again observed operating the stolen car and again fled the deputy. Hunt proceeded to dead-end Libby Road in Casco, where sheriff’s deputies attempted to apprehend him, Goulet said.

After 4.2 miles, Hunt drove the stolen car over a tire-deflating device, deployed by deputies; three of the four tires went flat. Hunt continued to elude deputies ultimately crashing at 284 Roosevelt Trail in Casco and fleeing on foot into the woods, Goulet said.

A sheriff’s K-9 unit and deputies located Hunt hiding in a tree stand in the woods behind the home at 294 Roosevelt Trail a short time later, and he was taken into custody, Goulet said.

Hunt was transported to the Cumberland County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 cash bail. He is facing multiple charges including operating as a habitual offender, revoked status; leaving the scene of an accident; eluding police (two counts); driving to endanger; and receiving stolen property. Additional charges from authorities in Norway are likely, Goulet said.

Christopher Wade Hunt