SACO — A driver who had recently been released from jail was arrested following a late-night pursuit and crash on the Maine Turnpike with the suspect’s young daughter in the vehicle on Wednesday night.

According to Steve McCausland, Maine Public Safety spokesman, State Trooper Gavin Hagar was driving on the turnpike in Portland about 9 p.m. when a GMC Terrain passed his cruiser and was clocked doing 111 mph.

The driver, Michael Messier, 25, of Biddeford, refused to stop when pursued by troopers and lost control of the SUV at the Saco exit, where it careened down an embankment and crashed.   

McCausland said that Messier allegedly ran off into nearby woods, leaving his daughter behind in the vehicle.

The girl, age 2 1/2, was in a child safety seat and was not injured in the crash.

“Troopers discovered her still strapped in her seat in the back after the vehicle’s air bags deployed,” McCausland said.  

After a quick check at the hospital, the girl was reunited with her mother, he said.

A search for the suspect by state troopers, and police officers from Saco and Biddeford was launched and failed to find Messier.

“At about 3 a.m. Messier was taken into custody after attempting to wave down turnpike motorists near the crash site,” McCausland said. 

Messier had been released from jail only days before the incident after serving time for domestic violence charges. 

At the time of his apprehension, Messier was suffering from mild hypothermia and was treated and released at Southern Maine Health Care before being arrested and taken back to the York County Jail.

McCausland said that Messier was charged with eluding a police officer and violating his bail conditions. Additional charges are expected to be filed stemming from the crash.  

Messier had been released from jail only days before after serving time on domestic violence charges.

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com