Amherst Woman Accused Of Stealing Jeep, Crashing Into Utility Pole In Salem

SALEM, NH — A woman from Amherst is facing several charges after being accused of stealing a vehicle and engaging in a chase with police in Salem Friday.

Around 7 p.m., police were told about a stolen vehicle at a store on North Broadway. The owner of a 2020 Jeep Gladiator had left its engine running in the parking lot when the vehicle was stolen.

Not long after the incident, a sergeant saw the Jeep on the southbound side of North Policy Street and attempted to stop it. The driver refused to stop and sped away, trying to elude police, a report stated. The driver, later identified as Mary Fairfield, 30, of Amherst, was accused of crashing the Jeep into a utility pole.

Fairfield, Capt. Jason Smith of the Salem Police Department said on Facebook, “fled the crashed vehicle on foot and attempted to flee from (the sergeant) who was able to chase her down on foot and arrest her.”

The stolen Jeep, he said, sustained heavy damage from the crash —which also sliced the utility pole in half.

Fairfield was charged with felony theft by unauthorized taking, conduct after an accident, resisting arrest or detention, driving after suspension-due to DUI, false report to law enforcement, breach of bail, and two disobeying an officer charges. More charges, Smith said, were possible.

“The Salem Police Department would also like to take this opportunity to remind the public not to leave their cars running with the keys in the ignition,” Smith said. “While you may only run into a store for a minute, it only takes a thief a few seconds to jump into a running car and to drive off with your car and belongings.”

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