BELFAST — A Saturday afternoon crash in downtown Belfast resulted in the death of the driver involved. 

Belfast Police received a report of the crash around 12:57 p.m., March 26, when they were alerted that a car had crashed into the side of the Gothic, a restaurant on Main Street, according to Officer Rick Smith. 

Vincent Scipiome, 52, of West Roxbury, Mass., was critically injured in the crash and was transported via LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. There, Scipiome died as a result of his injuries.

Scipiome’s 2005 Mercury sedan was travelling down the hill near Church Street heading toward Belfast’s Post Office when he suddenly veered around a van, Smith said. The car continued down Main Street on the wrong side of the road before striking a parked 2008 Saab, continuing onto the sidewalk, and then striking the Gothic.

After being struck, the Saab reportedly spun around in the air before striking another parked vehicle. Both of the parked vehicles involved were unoccupied at the time of the accident. 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, according to Smith. Police are investigating all possible angles, including a medical emergency or vehicle malfunction. 

Smith said a vehicle autopsy will be performed by Maine State Police to determine if the crash was caused by a defect in the vehicle. 

Scipiome was the only person injured as a result of the crash.

“We’re just fortunate it wasn’t busy and the sidewalks were clear,” Smith said. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com