ACTON — A man shot and killed himself in the driveway of a home on West Shore Drive Wednesday afternoon following what police are describing as a “slow-speed” chase.

York County Sheriff William King declined to identify the deceased man. He said the man, who was in his 60s, had been distraught.

At the scene of the incident, a quiet dead end roadway that snakes along the edge of Square Pond, Chief Deputy Tom Baran said a deputy driving on Goose Pond Road had spotted a vehicle coming from the other direction, dragging a muffler and creating sparks. When the deputy initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle initially stopped, but when the deputy got out of his cruiser, the vehicle took off, he said.

Baran said the deputy pursued the vehicle at speeds that did not exceed 45 mph. The chase continued until the vehicle stopped in the driveway.

“As the deputy approached, the driver shot himself and subsequently died from a self inflicted gunshot wound,” King wrote in a press release issued Wednesday evening. “Acton Rescue responded to the scene and the man was pronounced dead. The departed was alone in the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.”

The incident took place in the 1400 block of West Shore Drive.

The neighborhood along West Shore Road is relatively quiet this time of year – many of the lakeside properties are seasonal, although there are some year-round residences.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.