A U-Haul truck reported stolen by Auburn police, right, led authorities on a chase reaching speeds topping 90 mph Wednesday afternoon before a collision with a FedEx delivery van, police say. The driver of the U-Haul was arrested at the scene. Photo courtesy of the Winthrop Police Department

WINTHROP — Police pursued a stolen U-Haul truck Tuesday afternoon at speeds of over 90 mph before the truck crashed into a turning FedEx van, totaling both vehicles and leading to two arrests.

The chase began at about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, when Chief Paul Ferland of the Winthrop and Monmouth police departments spotted the U-Haul driving east on U.S. Route 202 near Charlie’s Chevrolet, a news release said. At the intersection of Route 202 and Main Street, Ferland attempted but failed to stop the truck, which had already been reported to police twice Tuesday afternoon for driving “erratically” in the area.

The U-Haul was reported as stolen Monday by the Auburn Police Department. It was stolen from a U-Haul facility at 541 Center St. in Auburn, Ferland said.

Ferland said that he was on his way home from the office when he observed the U-Haul vehicle coming toward him, and activated his lights. The driver began to pull over then appeared to reconsider, Ferland said.

“I was able to catch up to the vehicle by Main Street and (Route) 202 in Winthrop, activated my lights, and he started to pull over,” Ferland said. “And then when he saw the other units coming up from Main Street on the 202 he decided he did not want to partake in it, and he took off. That’s when the chase started.”

Ferland and Officer Mike Cote chased the truck for the next six minutes, exceeding 90 mph on both U.S. Route 202 and Winthrop Center Road, also known as Route 135, which the U-Haul turned onto 3 miles into the chase.

The driver was apparently headed toward Monmouth, where a police unit was waiting with spike strips, when the U-Haul got in an accident, ending the chase, Ferland said. The U-Haul truck struck a FedEx delivery van as it was turning left into a private driveway at 1072 Route 135.

“The U-Haul truck tried passing on the left as she was making the left-hand turn into the driveway, and that’s when the crash occurred,” Ferland said.

Both vehicles were totaled, but none of the three people involved suffered serious injuries. The driver of the FedEx van, Brenda Bas, 59, of Old Orchard Beach, was treated at the scene and refused ambulance transport.

The driver of the U-Haul, Ronald R. Hinkley Jr., 25, of North Monmouth, was arrested at the scene. Passenger Robert Hermanson, 31, of Warren, was also arrested on several outstanding drug-trafficking warrants. Both are being held at Kennebec County jail.

Hinkley was previously charged with stealing cash, medical marijuana and a video camera from a home in 2018. Ferland said that this is not Hinkley’s first time getting in a high-speed chase.

“Hopefully, this time he’ll go away for a little bit more,” Ferland said.

Winthrop and Monmouth police were assisted by the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, Monmouth Fire Department and Winthrop Ambulance Service.