Passengers say the driver of a vehicle that crashed into a telephone pole in Rindge on Saturday fled the scene on foot, according to police.
On Saturday, at about 1:30 a.m., Rindge police and fire department responded to Forristall Road, near Route 202, for a report of a single-car crash. According to a press release issued by Rindge police, first-responders located the vehicle, which had struck a telephone pole, causing a broken pole and downed wires. The vehicle had sustained heavy damage.
An investigation determined the 2020 Kia Sorento was traveling north on Route 202 and failed to properly navigate the left-hand turn onto Forristall Road. The vehicle crossed the road and crashed into the pole. Police believe speed was a factor in the crash.
According to police, when police and fire officials arrived, they found four people inside the vehicle, and the driver’s seat vacant. The passengers told police that the driver had fled the scene of the crash into the woods. Two of the vehicle’s occupants were taken to Henry Heywood Hospital in Gardner with minor injuries. The other two occupants refused medical assistance at the scene.
Police requested a tracking dog, but were unable to locate anyone or confirm that the driver had fled the scene.
The vehicle was towed from the scene to an auto body shop to be secured. Police anticipate executing a search warrant on the vehicle.
Forristall Road was reduced to a single lane of traffic in the area for six hours while the pole was replaced. Rindge Police Fire and Rescue, Jaffrey-Rindge Ambulance, Winchendon Ambulance and the New Hampshire State Police K-9 unit assisted on the scene. Eversource responded to the scene to repair the telephone pole.
The crash is under investigation by the Rindge Police Department, and the names of those involved are being withheld pending the identification of the driver of the vehicle. Possible charges will be determined at that time, according to police.
Witnesses or anyone with additional information is asked to contact Officer Ryan Aro at 603-899-5009 or 603-355-2000.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.