Teen Dies in Late-night ATV Incident in Freedom, N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. – Nineteen-year-old Jason Phair, originally of Gorham, Maine, has died of injuries sustained in an All Terrain Vehicle incident in the early morning hours of August 24, 2009. Family members have been notified.

Phair, who had been living with his girlfriend and her parents in Conway, was attending a party at a house in Freedom, N.H. with several others, most of them younger than 21. At approximately 1:00 a.m., some of the attendees were taking turns riding on a 4-wheeled ATV on a private road. Phair reportedly rode as a passenger on the ATV before taking a ride on his own without a helmet. It appears that Phair lost control of the machine and struck a tree about 200 yards from the house.

The other party attendees took Phair back to the house, but did not call for help for a long period of time. At about 2:30 a.m., a call was placed to 911, alerting authorities to the young man’s worsening condition. Phair was transported to Conway Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m.

Fish and Game Conservation Officer Brian Abrams met N.H. State Police and Freedom Police at the scene.

Phair’s body is now in Concord and will be autopsied. The N.H. Fish and Game Department, the Freedom Police Department and N.H. State Police are investigating the incident. Speed and alcohol may have been contributing factors. No further information is available at this time.