An abandoned minivan was pulled out of the woods in Dunbarton near Kimball Pond last Thursday after spending nearly a month stuck in the mud.
A passer-by reported the minivan to police on March 27, Dunbarton Chief Daniel Sklut said, adding that he believed the vehicle had already been there for a few days. It was on town property in the woods near a walking path off Rangeway Road, a Class 6 road not maintained by the town, Sklut said.
An officer sent out the day it was reported could not locate it in the woods. Sklut said the person who first reported the van called back and gave better directions. Skult then went out and found the van himself.
When Sklut finally reached the van, he found it vandalized and stuck in a large puddle. Sklut found empty beer cans and bottles scattered inside and around the van with the windows smashed and air bags destroyed.
“It was really demolished,” Sklut said. “It’s an area where we have had a lot of problems” such as illegal disposal of trash, illegal fires and drinking parties.
Police said Tuesday the vehicle’s owner was identified through its registration. The owner is described by police as a woman in her 20s with a last known address in Manchester, though police do not know her whereabouts. Dunbarton police would not release her name because she has not yet been cited.
The owner was notified and given an opportunity to remove it, Sklut said. About two and a half weeks later, police returned with John’s Wrecker Service of Concord to help get the minivan out of the woods. The wrecking service had to come back the next day with bigger equipment – including a front-end loader with 15-foot forks, an equipment hauler and a flatbed truck – after its tow truck couldn’t pull the minivan out of the mud.
“It’s a four-wheel drive road,” Sklut said. “You’re not going to get there in a sedan.”
Sklut said there were no oil or gas leaks found on the van.
As for the vandalism and presumed drinking, it is unknown if that was done by the owner or another person or group.
“We investigated and took some items, but nothing at this point points to anyone but the owner,” said Officer Laura Cattabriga. Sklut tried lifting finger prints from the beer cans found in the car, but couldn’t pull up a clear print.