Jaffrey Man Arrested After Route 101 Road Rage, Crash Incident

Two men were arrested were arrested yesterday afternoon at a crash scene on Route 101 in Candia after a road rage incident that erupted into a brawl, according to New Hampshire State Police.

Matthew Anderson, 40, of Manchester, pictured right, and David Bell, 60, of Jaffrey, were both arrested on June 22, 2015, on second-degree assault, reckless conduct, and disorderly conduct charges.

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 report, state troopers were called to an accident scene where two men were reportedly fighting at around 4:15 p.m. on Route 101 westbound in Candia.

After investigating the incident, troopers allege that Anderson, who was driving a Ford Flex, and Bell, who was driving a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck, became involved in a road rage incident, with both drivers signaling to the other to pull over.

“Bell passed the vehicle being driven by Anderson in the left travel lane and then made an abrupt lane change in front of Anderson’s vehicle as they were both moving into the breakdown lane,” according to Sgt. Keith Walker of the NHSP. “As Bell made this lane change, his vehicle struck Anderson’s vehicle.”

Both men stopped in the breakdown lane and exited their vehicles.

“Anderson exited his vehicle with a large Mag Light style flashlight in his hand,” Walker reported. “Anderson and Bell approached each other and became involved in a physical confrontation. During this altercation, Anderson struck Bell with the flashlight in his head and groin area. The two men continued their physical altercation and eventually separated. Upon completion of the initial altercation Bell returned to his vehicle and retrieved a construction tool known as an angle grinder. He approached Anderson again and struck him in the abdomen and head with the angle grinder.”

Both men were arrested at the scene. Anderson was later taken to Elliot Hospital for treatment; Bell refused treatment at the scene. They are due in Candia District Court on Aug. 12. Additional charges may be forthcoming, according to state police.

The incident remains under investigation by Trooper Harrison Walters and Trooper Kevin Devlin, both from New Hampshire State Police/Troop A. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is asked to call Trooper Walters or Trooper Devlin at 603-223-8490.

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