Posted on 04/08/2006 8:24:51 AM PDT by Angus MacGregor
Dodds cant recall details By CLYNTON NAMUO Union Leader Correspondent 5 hours, 48 minutes ago
Portsmouth Gary Dodds, who was missing for more than 24 hours after an accident on the Spaulding Turnpike, was recuperating yesterday at Portsmouth Regional Hospital where he was taken after being found semi-conscious late Thursday night.
Dodds, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House, was being kept overnight for observation and it was not yet known when he would be released, his wife, Cindy Dodds, said yesterday.
They dont seem to be concerned about any brain injury or anything. They just think it was a bump in the head, she said.
Cindy Dodds said her husband cant remember escaping from his wrecked car and recalls little of what happened following the accident other than being in water when he crossed the Bellamy River.
He said when he was in the water he was in over his head, taking in water just trying to swim to shore, she said.
Volunteer searcher Donna Larson and her German shepard Eli of New England K-9 Search and Rescue found Dodds near Garrison Elementary School close to the river. He was discovered a little before 11 p.m. Thursday on the opposite side of the river from the crash site with a minor head injury and suffering from hypothermia.
Dogs had been brought in Thursday night after much of the ground search was called off due to darkness. They concentrated their search around the river after footprints were discovered on both sides, leading police to believe Dodds had crossed it at some point. He was found after only two hours of the dogs searching.
State police are continuing their investigation into the cause and circumstances of the accident.
Dodds was driving south on the Spaulding Turnpike around 8:15 Wednesday night when his car ran over a guard rail between Exit 7 and the Dover toll plaza and veered off the road and ended up in an embankment with the drivers side door blocked. A witness pulled over to help, but found an open passenger side window, an empty car and one set of footprints leading away.
Dodds was not tested for alcohol or drugs because there was no evidence of it in the car and he is known not to smoke or drink, said his wife, who owns Portsmouth-based Accent Magazine along with her husband and a partner.
After his rescue, Cindy Dodds said, her husband told her he saw something in the road, possibly a deer, and swerved to avoid it, striking the guardrail and ending up on the side of the road in the process.
He thought he smelled smoke or fire, which I think was the airbags deploying, she said. So he really felt the car was on fire, which is why he leapt out of the car so quickly. He definitely had a head bump, which is what made him disoriented, which is what caused him to run.
From there, it is believed Dodds crossed Spur Road and the Bellamy River, both of which run parallel to the Spaulding Turnpike, eventually making his way into some brush before lying down and using leaves for warmth.
While crossing the river, Dodds lost one of his shoes and when he was found, both of his feet were purple up to his calves, Cindy Dodds said. Once he laid down, he was close enough to Garrison Elementary School to hear children at recess, but too injured to seek help, she said.
He said he couldnt walk and he couldnt seem to get his wits about him to get up, she said.
Those close to Dodds said they were relieved to hear he was found alright.
I know personally its a huge relief and there was definitely a pit in my stomach for the last day, and its nice to have that gone, said Ian Grant, chairman of the Rye School Board on which Dodds also serves. From a school board perspective, were all looking forward to Garys speedy recovery.
Dodds is also a volunteer firefighter in Rye. Fire Chief Richard OBrien said Dodds was lucky to be found.
After getting a bump on the head, his basic instinct of staying clear of an unsafe scene may have kicked in, he said. I cant tell you how relieved we were to hear he had been found and was safe.
Campaign Manager Bonnie Winona offered praise for the dogs that found Dodds and said she expects him to recover quickly and return to work.
Hes a fighter and hes a survivor, and Im smiling cause I know hell be a great campaigner, she said. I think Im going to start a campaign contingent called Dogs for Dodds.
I read your book!!!
Was Ted Kennedy driving?
Complete with a car crash and a swim!!!
I hope they checked the back seat for any drunk interns.
How conveeeeeeeeeeeenient.
I see the good old Congressional privilege extends to candidates, too. Is that SOP or would John or Mary Doe get the same consideration under similar circumstances?
Not surprising either.
Of course not, we're the serfs. How dare you question your 'betters'!
Cars, people and houses all around.
More to the story that's for sure.
Dodds took off before the cops got to the scene of the accident.
He went into the woods and played Rambo for 48 hours.
Enough time for any alcohol to be processed out of his body.
Yesterday's thread on the subject.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1610804/posts
Actually, he sounds more cogent than most Democrats.
Classic ploy--delay long enough to get the alcohol out of your system.
It's fun to talk about again anyways. :)
A Teddy K. Moment.
I'd think that a bump in the head would be serious. A bump on the head may not be.
They don't go running into the woods, swim across freezing cold rivers,then covers up oneself with leaves even while hearing children playing at recess.
Sorry, makes no sense.
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