NHSP: Man Drove Into Exeter Bridge After Hampton Chase

Last night, New Hampshire State Police troopers were involved in a pursuit of a possibly impaired driver that later turned into a crash on Route 101 in Exeter.

Anthony Ballance, 58, of Raymond, was arrested on June 17, 2015, and charged with aggravated DUI, disobeying an officer, operating after revocation, driving without giving proof, reckless operation, reckless conduct, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and contempt – breach of bail conditions.

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.

According to a state police report, troopers were called to Route 101 westbound at around 5:15 p.m. for a report from the Hampton Police Department that they were pursuing an erratic driver in an Infiniti throwing liquor bottles of a vehicle.

State police found the vehicle after it “went off the road at the underpass of Route 85, side swiping the bridge abutment and coming to final rest in thick brush,” according to Sgt. Steven Cooper of the New Hampshire State Police.

“The vehicle went off the road at the underpass of Route 85, side swiping the bridge abutment and coming to final rest in thick brush,” according to Cooper. “The operator was apprehended after cutting his neck and stabbing himself in the stomach with a knife. The causation of the crash was the operator purposely attempted to drive into the bridge abutment.”

Ballance was sent to Exeter Hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Cooper noted that they were assisted at the scene by the Hampton Police Department, Exeter Police Department, Stratham Police Department, and Exeter Fire Department.

Two and a half years ago, Ballance was arrested for DUI, resisting, after an incident in Raymond, according to police in that community.

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