WINDHAM – Police say two Windham residents were struck by a hit-and-run drunk driver while walking at night on Route 115 last weekend.

The driver, 30-year-old Richard Tarvers, of 7A Smith Road, Windham, was heading toward Gray on Route 115 near the intersection of Sandbar Road when police say he collided with two pedestrians, both of whom were walking with traffic in the breakdown lane.

Tarvers, who left the scene after colliding with the pedestrians, is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, elevated aggravated assault and reckless conduct. He was taken to Cumberland County Jail and faces arraignment in Cumberland County Unified Court March 15.

The victims were identified as Victoria Morin, 31, of Laskey Road in South Windham, and Benjamin Giles, 32, of Dunridge Circle in North Windham, which is located about 500 feet from the accident scene.

Windham police Lt. Dave DeGruchy said Giles experienced “multiple, severe internal injuries” and was unconscious at the scene. He was transported to Maine Medical Center by Windham Rescue. According to a hospital spokesman, Giles was listed in serious condition as of Tuesday afternoon. Morin, who was conscious at the scene, was treated for minor injuries and released.

According to DeGruchy, Patrol Officer Paul Cox witnessed the entire incident, which took place at 12:45 a.m. early Sunday. Cox, who DeGruchy said is known around the police station as a kind of “OUI magnet” when he works the overnight shift, again “was in the right place at the right time” when the incident occurred.

And while DeGruchy said it was unfortunate Cox wasn’t a few seconds early in nabbing the drunk driver, he said police teamwork prevented the driver from successfully fleeing the scene.

In describing the incident, DeGruchy said Cox had just passed Tarvers on Route 115 near the intersection of routes 115 and 302 when he noticed Tarvers driving erratically. Cox then spun around and was in the process of catching up to Tarvers, who was operating a 2001 Dodge Ram pickup, and about to put his blue lights on when he saw Tarvers strike the pedestrians near Patman’s Redemption.

After the strike, DeGruchy said Tarvers slowed down and came to a stop a little ways up the road but then drove off again. Cox had already reported the situation to dispatch, which had Sgt. Peter Fulton immediately respond to the area. While Cox attended to the two pedestrians on the side of the road, Fulton, who was driving along Falmouth Road when he received the call, spotted Tarver’s pickup truck as he drove on Route 115 near the bridge that crosses between Mill and Collins ponds.

Fulton was able to stop Tarvers without incident and observed damage to the front, passenger-side headlight. There was also snow “caked into the grill,” DeGruchy said, indicating to investigators that Tarvers also hit the snowbank on the side of the road in addition to the pedestrians.

“We don’t know what caused the accident,” DeGruchy said. “Paul (Cox) witnessed the vehicle veer into the breakdown lane and strike the pedestrians. What caused him to veer, we don’t know. As you can imagine, he wasn’t very talkative when we finally caught up to him.”

DeGruchy said Fulton could smell alcohol on Tarvers, who subsequently failed a field sobriety test. Tarvers’ only other contact with Windham police took place in 2003 when he was also charged with OUI. Results of a blood alcohol test are expected back by the end of the week, DeGruchy said.

Richard Tarvers