UNITY — A Unity man was arrested and charged with seven counts following an alleged hit and run accident in Unity Dec. 10, according to Waldo County Sheriff Jeffrey Trafton.

Matthew R. Small, 32, has been charged with aggravated criminal mischief, driving to endanger, endangering the welfare of a child, failure to give notice of an accident by quickest means, failure to notify the operator/owner of an unattended vehicle accident, operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

The incident occurred around 7 p.m. in the parking area of Unity House of Pizza on Main Street when a vehicle reportedly driven by Small went off the roadway and struck a vehicle parked in the restaurant’s parking lot. The owner of the parked vehicle, who reported the crash to police, said the vehicle left the scene following the crash.

When Deputy Wiley McVety Jr. responded to the scene, he discovered the license plate near the damaged vehicle, which had been knocked free of the car during the collision. McVety also noted that there was a trail of vehicle fluid leaving the parking lot and leading to a nearby residence, which matched with the address of the vehicle connected with the license plate, later identified as a relative of Small’s.

After traveling to the residence, McVety said he learned the owner of the heavily damaged vehicle wasn’t the driver but knew who was. The relative also stated that a teenage minor had been in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The minor told McVety what happened, which matched what the witness at the pizza shop had reported, police said.

Both involved vehicles sustained severe damage, according to Sheriff Trafton.

Small had left the residence prior to McVety’s arrival, but he was discovered sitting near another vehicle on the property and was arrested without incident.

Small is scheduled to appear in Waldo County Unified Court Jan. 25.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com