CONCORD, NH — Concord police are investigating an early morning hit-and-run crash in the West End on Saturday.
Just before 1 a.m., residents of Little Pond Road reported hearing a loud boom and then squealing tires, and suspected there may have been a crash. Dispatch sent officers to the area. One officer who heard the call told dispatch they saw a car with front-end damage drive by them.
“A vehicle just went past me on North State Street,” the officer said. “It was all banged up and was screeching real loud.”
Another officer headed to the area while the first officer began to try to track down the car. They reported it turning onto Court Street, Washington Street, or Centre Street.
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“It had heavy damage on the driver’s side,” the officer said. “It also had a headlight out.”
Dispatch asked if it was a white car and the officer said it was. The dispatcher reported fire dispatch heard and saw the vehicle earlier. The fire dispatchers are located at the intersection of Penacook and North State streets and Horseshoe Pond Lane.
A third officer headed to the area to check side streets and parking lots in the downtown area after the first officer lost track of the car, thinking it may have been “tucked away.”
An officer found debris on Auburn Street near Penacook Street and Little Pond Road. The officer continued driving west and, just after Pond Place Lane, found more debris and mud tracks where the car drove east into a fire hydrant. Dispatch then received a call reporting the car was on North Spring Street.
“It was someone that heard it going by,” the dispatcher said.
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An officer found the Toyota Corolla parked just off the intersection of North Spring and School streets unoccupied.
Officers searched the area for a man matching the description of the owner of the car — late 20s, about 6 feet tall, 204 pounds, with dark hair and eyes, but did not find anyone (dispatch did not offer a racial or ethnic description of the man). Dispatch said Concord police had “a lot of history with him.” According to posts on Patch, the owner of the vehicle was charged with drug possession about 10 years ago when he was 17 and driving while intoxicated, drug possession, and marijuana possession in May 2016, at 19. He was reportedly found passed out behind the wheel of a Prius at a McDonald’s drive-thru. According to the arrest report, police accused the suspect of failing a field sobriety test, and possessing beer, a smoking device, a jar of marijuana, and a digital scale.
An officer visited the man’s apartment, which was nearby, while other officers made contact with local cab companies to see if anyone was picked up in the area. The officer at his apartment reached the vehicle owner by cellphone and said he agreed to step out and meet with him, but after waiting, he did not appear.
“I’m still working on getting a hold of him,” the officer said.
According to scanner chatter, the officer who found the debris also arrived to assist, but the suspect did not respond to them either. Around 2 a.m., that officer went to headquarters to file a report.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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