Police impound truck said involved in fatal hit-run

The bike was found just a short distance from the victim's body. (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - Police have impounded a pickup truck they believe was involved in a hit-and-run accident early today that left a Rochester bicyclist dead.

The accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. when the male bicyclist was struck in the area of the intersection of Farmington Road and the Spaulding Turnpike.

Jeffrey Howarth, 51, was found dead on the road's shoulder, beside the guardrail. Debris from damage to the vehicle as well as Howarth's crumpled bicycle lay scattered near the southbound on-ramp. Police say the truck was headed east from Farmington when the collision occurred.

Police earlier said there was likely to be significant damage to the front of the involved vehicle, including a missing headlight.

Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau said this afternoon that through assistance from the public they had impounded a truck found at a Dover, N.H., address and added that the investigation was ongoing. He confirmed police do have a person of interest in the case but stopped short of calling them a suspect.

The Strafford County Regional Accident Reconstruction Team investigated the accident.