Woman seriously injured when suspect in police chase crashes into her vehicle

The suspect's truck engulfed in flames after his first crash. (Amy Sinclair video capture)

OXFORD, Maine - A Woodstock man on probation for causing a traffic death in 2019 led police on a Friday chase that left a Portland woman critically injured.
The incident unfolded around 5:10 p.m. on Friday when Oxford Police received a report of a Ford F-150 pickup truck driving erratically on Mechanic Falls Road in Oxford.
Oxford Police observed the pickup truck northbound in heavy traffic near their police department on Route 26. The truck was seen passing vehicles recklessly, with oncoming traffic. Oxford Police pulled onto the roadway and attempted to catch up with the truck, Maine State Police said Saturday in a press release.

Ethan Rioux-Poulios (Police mugshot)

While passing Wal-Mart on Route 26 in Oxford, the offending truck was observed by witnesses striking other vehicles and continuing north on Route 26. The suspect then turned from Route 26 onto Oxford Street where, according to more witnesses, he continued making unsafe passes before losing control of his pickup truck and driving into an oncoming vehicle, causing that vehicle, a Ford Escape, to go off the road and into trees.
When Oxford Police arrived at the crash scene, the pickup was on fire and the suspect had already exited his truck and fled. A witness at the crash scene was able to identify the male suspect as 26-year-old Ethan Rioux-Poulios of Woodstock.
State Police, Oxford Sheriff's Department, Norway, and Paris Police Departments all responded to the area to assist. While searching the area, Norway Police learned a vehicle had been stolen nearby. While checking the region, State Troopers located the stolen vehicle on Yeaton Swamp Road in Oxford, not far from the crash.
As Troopers attempted to catch up with the vehicle, the stolen vehicle sped off and Troopers engaged in a pursuit. The pursuit went from Oxford into Otisfield, then through Norway, where Troopers attempted to utilize spike mats to disable the vehicle. The pursuit continued back to Oxford where Troopers were able to safely disable the stolen vehicle and end the pursuit. Rioux-Poulios exited the vehicle and resisted arrest while being taken into custody. He was transported to Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway by Oxford Rescue for injuries sustained in the initial crash on Oxford Street.
The driver of the Ford Escape, 28-year-old Nicole Kumiega of Portland, was initially transported to Stephens Memorial Hospital by PACE Rescue, then flown by Lifeflight to Maine Medical Center in Portland where she is in critical condition. The passenger in the Ford Escape was transported by PACE Rescue to Stephens Memorial Hospital where they were treated and released.
Rioux-Poulios was evaluated at Stephens Memorial Hospital and released. He was then transported to the Oxford County Jail.
At the time of Friday's incident, Rioux-Poulios was on probation for a 2019 manslaughter conviction where he crashed into a vehicle on Route 26 in West Paris, killing the driver, while fleeing from an Oxford County Deputy. At the time of the 2019 incident, Rioux-Poulios fled from that crash and was later located at a residence in South Paris.
Rioux-Poulios has been charged with the following criminal and motor vehicle offenses: Eluding, Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of a PI Accident, Driving to Endanger, Failure to Stop for Police, Refusing to Submit to Arrest, Exceeding Posted Speed 30+, Probation Violation.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incidents, anyone that may have damage from the crashes, or may have video or pictures is asked to contact State Police Troop B Investigators Trooper Adam Fillebrown and Trooper Jason Wing at 207.657.3030.