Man From Florida Arrested On Drunken Driving Charge After East Concord Crash: Follow-Up

CONCORD, NH — A man from the Sunshine State was arrested last week, accused of crashing into a Jeep and fleeing the scene of a crash, only to drive into a tree about a mile away on March 30, according to court records.

Around 10:30 p.m., police dispatchers received a report about a crash on East Side Drive just before Eastman Street. About a minute later, dispatch received a second call concerning a crash on Appleton Street, about a mile away.

Later, dispatch learned the first crash was a hit-and-run.

“I’m right by 393,” one officer said, heading to the Appleton Street crash, “I’ll head that way until we see if that is the vehicle from the hit-and-run.”

State police also had a trooper stop at the East Side Drive crash scene. Concord fire and rescue teams were also called to the Appleton Street scene.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains how to request the removal of a name from New Hampshire Patch police reports.

News 603 posted a video from the scene on Facebook.

The driver from East Side Drive described the vehicle as a white SUV, dispatch said, and traveled northbound.

When officers arrived at Appleton Street, they found a white pickup truck had crashed into a tree at the intersection of Oak Hill Road.

An officer at the scene claimed a witness, who was also driving, reported the truck was traveling at “around 90 miles an hour,” according to scanner chatter. They reportedly had a dashcam operating, the officer said.

The tree, they said, was “pretty banged up.” At first, the officer could not find the front tire, but then found it nearby. A side mirror was also missing. An officer on East Side Drive said the mirror was located near the other crash site.

“I’m staring at it,” another officer said.

The truck was described as a Toyota Tacoma, possibly a rental. The other vehicle was a Jeep Laredo.

Tow trucks were called for both vehicles.

After being checked out by EMTs, around 11 p.m., Christopher Joseph Kelleher, 61, of NW 207th Street in Miami Gardens, Florida, was arrested on driving under the influence and conduct after an accident charges, as well as a yellow-solid line violation.

On April 6, Kelleher’s defense attorney made several requests for discovery files.

Kelleher is due back in Concord District Court on May 26.

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