Hooksett driver seriously injured after vehicle rollover during police chase through Northfield

NORTHFIELD — A Hooksett driver was badly injured in a rollover crash Tuesday, following a police pursuit along Interstate 93, State Police say.

Trooper Noah Gooch of the Troop D Barracks conducted a traffic stop on I-93 southbound near Bow at 2:47 a.m. on Aug. 12. After a brief interaction, the driver of a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta suddenly drove away from Gooch at a high rate of speed. Police initiated a pursuit.

Just south of the Hooksett tolls, troopers used tire deflation spikes and successfully deflated one of the Volkswagen’s tires. While driving through a work zone in Hooksett, the Volkswagen nearly struck a construction worker, State Police say.

The driver — later identified as Aaron C. Thurber, 21, of Hooksett — used a restricted-access crossover to turn around and continued traveling northbound. The pursuit entered Northfield at a high rate of speed. Upon entering Northfield, Thurber apparently veered off to the right side of the road, struck an embankment, and the Volkswagen rolled over.

Thurber was taken into custody and is charged with reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, disobeying a police officer and reckless operation. He was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. 

Members of Troop D were assisted by additional troopers assigned to the Troop B barracks, as well as officers from the Northfield Police Department and members of the Tilton-Northfield Fire Department.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Gooch at Noah.D.Gooch@dos.nh.gov.