Man in stolen truck evades state police for 80 miles, sparks brush fires with flat tires

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Stolen truck disabled by spike strips following a pursuit on I-93.
Stolen truck disabled by spike strips following a pursuit on I-93.

MANCHESTER, NH – Christopher O’Dwyer, 42, of Salem, was arrested on Oct. 11 after State Police made several attempts to stop him as he evaded police for more than 80 miles on I-93 between Londonderry and Enfield in a stolen truck. Even after his truck was disabled by spike strips, O’Dwyer allegedly refused to stop, and the metal-on-roadway sparking also led to several small brush fires, police said.

O'Dwyer
O’Dwyer

According to a police narrative, at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday New Hampshire State Police Capt. Gregory Ferry attempted to stop O’Dwyer, who was driving a 2011 GMC Sierra pick-up truck at a high rate of speed on I-93 with Massachusetts registration plates. According to Capt. Ferry, the truck got his attention as it sped through a construction zone in Londonderry.

According to police, O’Dwyer refused to pull over while traveling at approximately 95 mph in a posted 55 mph. The pursuit continued up I-93 at speeds between 95 and 115 mph in Hooksett where a trooper unsuccessfully attempted to deploy tire deflation spikes at the north end of the open road tolling.  It was also discovered that the pick-up truck had just been reported stolen out of Boston, Mass.

A second attempt to use tire deflation devices to stop the truck near the I-89 junction was also unsuccessful. The truck entered I-89 north after passing a vehicle by way of the grass shoulder on the ramp. A trooper successfully deployed tire deflation devices on the vehicle’s front tires prior to Exit #2; however, Mr. O’Dwyer still refused to stop. Just south of Exit #3 the truck veered to the left, striking the median jersey barrier. The truck continued northerly at speeds between 60-100+ mph. Several additional successful deployments of tire deflation devices left O’Dwyer driving the truck on heavily sparking rims with tire debris littering the roadway. Some sparks created several small brush fires, prompting the New London Fire Department to respond to extinguish the flames.

The pursuit came to a conclusion in the area of mile marker 48.6 in Enfield when the vehicle came to a stop, unable to proceed any further.   O’Dwyer was subsequently taken into custody without incident. There were no reported injuries and one State Police cruiser sustained minor damage as a result of driving over tire debris.

O’Dwyer was booked at Troop D where he refused the services of a bail commissioner. He is currently being held at the Merrimack County House of Correction pending a video arraignment in the 6th Circuit Court in Concord on Wednesday morning.

He is charged with receiving stolen property (Class-B felony), reckless conduct (Class-B felony), disobeying an officer (misdemeanor), and conduct after an accident (misdemeanor.)

The New  Hampshire State Police were assisted by troopers from Troop B, Troop D, New London Police Department,  Sutton Police Department, Bradford Police Department, Sunapee Police Department and the New London Fire Department

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!