MANCHESTER, NH – A woman was seriously injured early Thursday morning in a hit-and-run accident in which the driver is charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of two back-to-back accidents.
Darren Chinn, 52, of Derry, was arrested after police say he fled on foot following the second crash that left a female passenger with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
According to police, the incidents leading to Chinn’s arrest unfolded as follows:
On March 3 at 2 a.m. police responded to the area of Webster Street and Hooksett Road in Manchester for a motor vehicle crash. Information was received that one vehicle had left the scene. The vehicle still at the scene was damaged but the operator was not injured.
Moments later, another crash was reported at the intersection of Red Coat Lane and Shaw Road involving a single motor vehicle. The operator of the vehicle, later identified as Chinn, had fled the area on foot leaving a female passenger, age 28, in the vehicle, police said.
Officers determined that this vehicle was the same vehicle that left the scene of the initial crash at Hooksett Road.
Using police dogs, a track from Red Coat Lane and Shaw Road led officers to the area of the Manchester/Hooksett town line. With the assistance of the Hooksett Police Department, Chinn was located and arrested.
He was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol/drugs, a felony; two counts of conduct after an accident; and contempt of court.
