Posted on 04/07/2006 3:13:35 PM PDT by Upstate NY Guy
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - A congressional hopeful wrecked his car and wandered a mile in a daze, swimming across a river and then huddling under leaves for warmth until he was found alive a day later, officials and relatives said.
Gary Dodds, 41, was taken to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia late Thursday. His wife, Cynthia, said Friday that he was doing well but has only foggy memories of his ordeal and "definitely had a good bump to the head."
Dodds crashed on the Spaulding Turnpike on Wednesday evening, but emergency workers who arrived a few minutes later found his car empty. When Dodds failed to come home or contact his family, authorities began a search by air and on foot.
"He believes he may have swerved to miss a deer or something in the road," she told WMUR-TV. "He jumped out of the vehicle. He thought it was on fire."
After that, "he remembers he was in water over his head," she said.
She said he recalls crawling, covering himself with pine needles and staying under a tree to conserve energy. He was cold and hungry, she said.
Fish and Game Lt. John Wimsatt said at some point Dodds swam across the Bellamy River. He was slipping in and out of consciousness when a volunteer found him, Wimsatt said.
The woman said Dodds was about 100 yards from some houses and had covered himself with leaves to stay warm. He called out to her as she approached.
Cynthia Dodds said her husband is an emergency medical technician who would normally know not leave an accident scene.
"He was definitely confused," she said. "He has no idea how he got into the river."
Dodds, of Rye, is one of several Democrats seeking to unseat Republican Rep. Jeb Bradley
Is there a dead girl in the trunk?
ALWAYS STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE... it is a lot easier to spot than you.
The man is obviously just an amateur wannabe. What, no body of a dead girl in the car?
I dunno. Just seems like another night out on the town for a New England Democrat. At least he didn't kill anybody.
Plus, you can always claim that you don't remember much, or only remember covering yourself with pine needles or some other such nonsense.
You might get away with it. Especially if you're a lawyer or a politician.
wandered a mile in a daze
Aren't congress-critters always doing this............
seperately, there is news of New Hampshire's "identity crisis," with people advocating dropping the slogan "live free or die" because it's not "who we are in New Hampshire."
Well, it used to be, until it was annexed by Massachusetts.
Thanks for the laugh!
That was my first impression. The guy was wasted, and ran. Booze or chemicals or both.
Liberatarians also tend to run after being in an accident. Need time to lower levels....
I'll bet he was DUI. Get lost for a day and wash it out of your system.
My stepfather went through a similar scenario after being in a very bad head-on car wreck that broke his back and gave him a severe head injury. He was able, even with his back broken, to get out of the car and start walking -- away from the road and the wreck, into a field and wooded area. He had emergency training and would never had acted this way without the severe and traumatic injuries. The medics found him wandering, dazed, after they saw the passenger door hanging open.
So before folks go too hard on the candidate, please consider that shock causes people not to act the way they normally do.
Gosh. A DemonRAT acting like a degenerate. Or would that be a degenerate acting like a DemonRAT? Distinction without a difference I suppose.
Dear Friends,
When I left for work on Wednesday, my two young daughters had never gotten themselves ready for school without help. When I returned home, they had revealed the maturity and strength to do that and much more. While I wandered the woods, frostbitten and wet, my daughters tapped the unseen strength and character to continue forward, to go to school, and care for themselves. Cindy and I are so proud of them.
I would like to thank the New Hampshire State Police, Fish & Game, the Marine Patrol, the Dover Police, the staff of Accent Magazine, the media, and all of the other volunteers that helped reunite me with my family. I am forever in your debt.
Today marks the end of an ordeal that has brought out the best in the face of the worst circumstances and tomorrow brings a new beginning. As I recover from this accident, I am mindful of the job that still needs to be done. The first Congressional District needs a leader. I will continue to listen to the voters of New Hampshire and hope to carry out their will in the United States Congress.
Sincerely,
Gary Dodds
The history of the breed merits suspicion.
"covering yourself with pine needles" BUMP.
They claim he never drank or smoked.
Since he attends fundraisers someone would have disputed his claim of sobriety by now, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that for now.
They should give him a scan for brain damage however.....Then again, he's a Democrat.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.