K-9 Finds Man in the Woods 10 Hours After Crash on I-89

A New Hampshire man is lucky to be alive after allegedly fleeing from a crash on I-89 last night and spending about 10 hours freezing in the woods until a K-9 unit found him.

James Borneman, 49, of Springfield, reportedly rolled over his Buick Rendezvous at around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2016, on the southbound side of I-89 near Enfield.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire State Police. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

State troopers from Concord were sent to the accident and found that the Buick veered off the Interstate, struck a guardrail, rolled over multiple times, and then came to a stop.

The driver, however, was nowhere to be found and troopers didn’t know if he was ejected from the vehicle, left the scene, or was assisted by another person. State police identified the driver as Borneman and then began reaching out to area hospitals and family but were unable to find him. Troopers then canvassed the area and found footprints on a trail off the travel lane nearby and down an embankment toward a brook.

“The trail continued north parallel with the brook where blood was located on it,” according to Sgt. James W. Steinmetz. “The trail went for approximately three-quarters of mile where it ended.”

Lebanon Police brought in its K-9 unit, which was able to follow the trail to the brook.

“The water was approximately knee high and moving swiftly, making crossing the brook directly too dangerous,” Steinmetz noted.

A Lebanon officer and trooper crossed the brook with the K-9 unit and quickly picked up the track again and led police up a hill about a half-mile.

“Borneman (was) lying on the ground in the fetal position, unconscious and suffering from hypothermia,” Steinmetz stated. “This was at approximately 4:30 a.m., some 10 hours after the crash.”

Hanover Fire and Rescue teams then extended its fire truck ladder to the area where Borneman was located to retrieve him. He was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital by Lebanon EMTs for treatment.

The investigation is ongoing and at post time, charges had not been issued against Borneman. Anyone with information is urged to contact Trooper Janell Smith, Troop D, at 603-271-1162.

Caption: Hanover Fire extends its fire truck ladder in an effort to retrieve James Borneman from the woods on Jan. 16, 2016. Credit: NHSP