Waterboro man arrested in crash that killed two outside local eatery

From left, Mark Schepis, Luke Stephenson (Courtesy), Charles Stoddard (York County Sheriff's Office photo)

ALFRED, Maine - A Waterboro man was arrested Wednesday in the deaths of two local residents struck when his vehicle plowed into them as they hung around outside awaiting table space at a Sokolis Trail restaurant.

York County Deputies arrested Charles Stoddard, 64, around 2:30 p.m. at his residence. He stands charged with two counts of manslaughter.

The arrest stems from a motor vehicle crash on July 31, that claimed the lives of Mark Schepis, 45, and Luke Stephenson, 12, both of Waterboro.
Investigation showed that Stoddard was driving on Sokokis Trail in Waterboro, heading toward Limerick, around 9 a.m. when his vehicle left the roadway and struck the marquee of the Cozi Corner Cafe at 199 Sokokis Trail. Schepis and Stephenson, who were sitting by the sign waiting to be seated in the restaurant, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Stoddard's vehicle continued on and struck a pickup truck that was leaving the parking lot. He was transported to the hospital and later released.
Schepis and Stephenson were members of two families who often met at the restaurant to enjoy breakfast together.
Stoddard is being held at the York County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, according to a YCSO press release sent out Wednesday.
Additional charges are anticipated including aggravated reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon (vehicle), aggravated operating a motor vehicle under the influence causing a fatality as well as possession of a scheduled W Drug.