BEDFORD — A local man faces criminal charges after a late-night incident at a Bedford gas station resulted in property damage and a low-speed pursuit by a witness.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Michael Bell of the Bedford Police Department, Phillip D. Baker, 47, has been charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident and reckless driving following an investigation into a collision at Reveres Food and Fuel.
The incident began in the early morning hours of March 15, 2026. At approximately 2:08 a.m., dispatch received a report that a vehicle had struck a light post on the south side of the Reveres parking lot and fled the scene.
Upon arrival, Officer Bell noted that the light pole had been physically moved and was covered in a red substance, with vehicle fragments scattered on the ground. A witness at the scene reported seeing a black passenger car with red stripes and a large rear spoiler collide with the pole so hard that the parking lot lights immediately shut off.
Wood followed the suspect vehicle south on State Road 37, observing it blow through a red light at 29th Street. Though he stopped for safety, Wood reported that the car was leaving a “noticeable trail of liquid” on the roadway.
Officer Bell followed the trail of automotive fluid through several city streets, including 29th Street, Broadview Drive, and Hillside Drive, before the trail went cold. However, using a partial license plate provided by Wood, investigators were able to identify a 2008 black Acura TL registered to Phillip Baker at a residence on Norton Lane.
Officers located the vehicle at the residence, noting:
- Damage to the front bumper consistent with the scene.
- Matching red paint transfers and missing body pieces.
- Evidence that the vehicle had been leaking fluids as described by the witness.
Security footage later obtained from Reveres management reportedly showed the Acura accelerating toward the light pole at 12:23 a.m., attempting to brake at the last second, and then reversing to flee once the collision caused the lot’s electrical system to fail.
On April 3, 2026, Officer Bell spoke with Baker via telephone. According to the affidavit, Baker admitted to being the driver during the collision and confirmed the vehicle in the footage was his. He reportedly told officers he fled the scene because he was scared and did not have insurance at the time of the crash.
The Bedford Police Department has requested an arrest warrant for Baker on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving
Baker is a resident of Bedford and a 1978 graduate, according to public records. The investigation is now being turned over to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.
