Maine trooper struck during pursuit
By Dennis Hoey
Portland Press Herald
PORTLAND, Maine — A state trooper was being treated Sunday night for a severely broken leg after he was hit by a car that was involved in a high-speed chase, Maine State Police said.
Trooper Mickael Nunez, a three-year member of the state police, was listed in stable condition at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta after the fleeing car struck him Sunday afternoon on Route 3 in China near the Family Dollar Store. At the time, Nunez had been setting up spike strips to deflate the tires on a green sports car operated by Robert Belmain, 53, of Caribou, state police said.
Belmain, who crashed his car after the collision, was flown from MaineGeneral by Lifeflight helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for treatment of head injuries, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Nunez, who attempted to retreat to a safe location when he spotted Belmain’s car approaching, could not avoid getting hit, McCausland said. However, Belmain lost control of his vehicle and crashed after hitting Nunez. During the pursuit, McCausland said Belmain’s vehicle reached speeds of 100 mph.
