Police Use Helicopter in Search for North Ave. Crash Suspect

A Massachusetts State Police helicopter searches for suspects who fled on foot. (Tanya King photograph.)

Haverhill police continue a search for the driver of a pickup truck, who fled on foot after crashing, in reverse, into a utility pole around 7 p.m., Wednesday on Marsh Avenue.

Haverhill Police Captain Robert P. Pistone, police spokesperson, confirmed to WHAV a passenger inside the truck, identified as George Gardner, 34, of 10 Primrose Way, Haverhill, also fled the scene and was later arrested at 7:44 p.m. on charges of disorderly conduct and destruction of property. As WHAV first reported, Gardner was taken into custody on Main Street.

“The driver is still at large and we are not releasing his identity at this time. The passenger was bailed last night and should be arraigned today in Haverhill District Court,” Pistone told WHAV Thursday.

According to Pistone, the pickup’s driver struck two vehicles in traffic while traveling northbound on Main Street, then put the truck in reverse. The rear of the truck collided into the utility pole after reaching a speed between 40 and 50 miles per hour. The impact caused the pole to split and was suspended “across the road.” Neighbors also reported on social media last night two people inside the truck fled on foot after the crash.

“This guy that went running ran through my back yard and broke my fence in two places,” wrote Jessie Clark on Facebook.

A state police helicopter was also used during the search for the truck’s occupants, as observers reported it was “circling around over Main Street and the highway” as well as “on the Plaistow side of route 125.”