Heroin Overdose Behind the Wheel Leads to Crash, Fourth DWI Charge

SALEM, NH - A single vehicle car crash last month led to numerous charges issued against a man who was reportedly overdosing before the crash and a woman who fled the scene with the drugs while the man was still unconscious in the car after the crash, according to police.

Aiyla M. Griffin, 22, of Pleasant View Circle in Dover, was arrested at 2:49 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2015, for criminal trespass, possession of a controlled drug (heroin, crack, less than 1 gram), falsifying physical evidence, and breach of bail. Also arrested was Jeffrey Morris, 50, of Stonecroft in Portsmouth for DUI-impairment, open container, and operating after being certified as a habitual offender.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Salem Police Department. 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.

Salem Police were sent to North Policy Street for a single car crash at just before 3 p.m., according to an arrest report.

Dispatch reported that a young female was allegedly “cleaning items out of the car” and attempting to leave the scene on foot. Windham Police were also notified about the woman possibly fleeing. The woman – later identified as Griffin – left the scene while the male driver – Morris – was unconscious behind the wheel, according to police.

“Responding officers located the vehicle and along with members of the Salem Fire Department (and) quickly determined the male was suffering from an apparent overdose,” according to Capt. Joel Dolan of the Salem Police Department. “Narcan was administered and the male started to come around.”

After conducting an investigation of Morris, he was arrested. Morris, according to Dolan, had three prior DWI convictions.

A K-9 unit was sent to the scene in an attempt to track down Griffin and she was located at the Salem Water Treatment Plant on North Policy Street.

“The investigation revealed Griffin had removed heroin and items used to inject heroin from the vehicle before fleeing the scene with the driver overdosing in the front seat,” Dolan noted.

Since she was out on bail from November 2015, on a drug charge, a breach of bail charge was added.

Both Morris and Griffin were held on $5,000 cash bail and arraigned via video.