Pair from Lebanon nabbed after DWI crash

Police say the Dodge crossed the center line striking the truck. (Rochester Police photos)

EAST ROCHESTER - One Lebanon man was arrested for drunken driving and another for allegedly falsifying physical evidence at the scene after an accident on the New Hampshire side of the bridge on Highland Street in East Rochester late Friday night.

Just before midnight Rochester Police said they got a call for an accident involving a tractor trailer and a Dodge Stratus.

When officers arrived, they located a blue Dodge Stratus that was heading east at rest in the westbound lane of travel with significant front end damage. The tractor trailer was heading west and still in the westbound lane of travel with front end damage.

After a brief investigation police learned that the Dodge, driven by Joseph Thompson, 21, of Sawtelle Road in Lebanon, was traveling on Highland Street heading east when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck the tractor trailer driven by John Arsenault of Charlton, Mass.

Dustin Dobson

Upon further investigation, officers learned that a passer-by who had stopped to offer help had removed evidence from the Dodge prior to the officers getting there.

Officers were able to stop the subject from leaving with the evidence and arrested Dustin Dobson, 23, of May Flower Lane, Lebanon, for falsifying physical evidence. Dobson was bailed on $5,000 personal recognizance with an arraignment date next month in Rochester District Court.

Thompson was arrested for DUI and possession of drugs. He was bailed on personal recognizance with an arraignment date for later this month.

Both Thompson and his passenger in the Dodge Stratus were transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with what were described as nonlife- threatening injuries.

Both the tractor trailer and the Dodge Stratus were towed from the scene with traffic limited to one lane for a short time.