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Charges pending after car crashes into Rangeley store

4 mins read
(Photo courtesy of Tami McGarvey)
Several charges are pending against Christopher Labbe, 43, of Dixfield, after police say he stole a blue Toyota, led police on a chase and crashed into a Main Street gift shop, Mo’s Variety in Rangeley.  (Photo courtesy of Tami McGarvey)
Rangeley fire fighters assisted at the scene early Saturday after a car crashed into M's Variety on Main Street in Rangeley. (Photo courtesy of Tami McGarvey)
Rangeley fire fighters assisted at the scene early Saturday after a car crashed into Mo’s Variety on Main Street in Rangeley. (Photo courtesy of Tami McGarvey)

RANGELEY – With several criminal charges pending against him, a Dixfield man remains in stable condition at a Portland hospital after police say he stole a car, led them on a chase through two counties and crashed into a Main Street gift shop early Saturday morning.

Christopher Labbe, 43, “is very lucky to be alive,” said Sgt. Jared Austin of the Rangeley Police Department.

The incident began in Dixfield when Labbe is alleged to have stolen a neighbor’s 2007 Toyota Corolla and drove it into Mexico where police there noticed the car going over the speed limit and attempted to pull it over.

The car continued and was pursued along Route 17 by Mexico, Rumford and Dixfield police. They called off the high speed chase at the town of Roxbury and notified the Franklin County Communications Center dispatchers that the car is headed into their county.

Austin was alerted at 12:32 a.m. Saturday that the blue Toyota may be coming his way and to stop and hold it if it does. The officer started to head from Rangeley to Oquossoc on Route 4 when he spotted a car matching the description heading past him towards Rangeley.

“He was going 74 mph in a 55 mph area,” Austin said. He immediately turned his cruiser around to pursue the car and saw it pick up its speed. Austin said he tried to follow the Toyota but it had raced ahead and was out of sight.

He continued on Route 4, also Main Street, and first noticed  a cloud of dust then spotted the Toyota just after it crashed into the front corner of Mo’s Variety store. After quickly getting to the demolished sedan, Austin said, Labbe was unconscious with multiple head laceration injuries and was found to be not wearing a seatbelt.

Labbe was transported by a LifeFlight helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland. NorthStar ambulance and Rangeley Fire Department personnel assisted at the scene.

The impact of the car crashing into the building caused its entire foundation to shift, Austin noted. “There was extensive damage done to the gift shop,” he said. It’s not clear if the building can be repaired or will need to be rebuilt by its owner.

Several criminal charges are pending against Labbe. Austin’s investigation continues.

The gift shop Mo's Variety received extensive damage after a car crashed into it early Saturday morning. Several charges are pending against the driver. (Photo courtesy of Tami McGarvey)
The gift shop Mo’s Variety received extensive damage after a car crashed into it early Saturday morning. Several charges are pending against the driver. (Photo courtesy of Tami McGarvey)
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2 Comments

  1. I hope that whatever punishment comes for this guy it includes cost recovery for both the property damage and the LifeFlight ride! That’s a lot of expense for someone who apparently just wanted to go for a fast joyride in a stolen car.

  2. Hopefully the shop owner had good insurance, I hope this driver gets locked away. The tax dollars spent housing him cost less than what this whole entire situation will cost for all the parties involved. It’s sad the level of disrespect people have towards others.

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