20-year-old Pepperell man killed in crash in Maine; police charge driver with drunk driving

By Katherine Landergan, Globe Correspondent

A 20-year-old Rhode Island man allegedly drove 50 miles over the speed limit and crashed into a utility pole Sunday morning, killing the passenger in his car, a Massachusetts man, according to Biddeford police.

Police identified the passenger as Anthony Ciccone, 20, of Pepperell, and the driver as Christopher M. Bennett, 20, of Johnston, R.I.

At 12:39 a.m., police received a call from security personnel at University of New England reporting two men who “were reportedly intoxicated and trying to forcibly enter a residence hall dorm room,” Biddeford police said in a statement. UNE security personnel attempted to stop the two men from driving but were unsuccessful, according to the statement.

Bennett and Ciccone were not students at UNE, but police said they were reportedly visiting friends.

“We have no indication they were drinking at UNE,” Thomas White, spokesman for the University of New England said in an email.

Biddeford Police officers spotted a dark-colored Ford Explorer,which matched the description that UNE officials had provided, driving at a high speed westbound on Pool Street,.

According to police, the car was traveling 80 miles per hour in a 30 mile-per-hour zone. An officer tried to stop the car, “but lost sight of the vehicle almost immediately,” the statement said.

Around 12:45 a.m., the Explorer crashed into a utility pole in the area of Pool Street and the West Brook Skating Rink.

Police said Ciccone was wearing a seat belt but they did not know whether Bennett had been wearing one.

Bennett was treated for non-life threatening injuries at the Maine Medical Center in Portland then taken to the York County Jail. He has been charged with manslaughter and operating under the influence, according to police.