Apr 8, 2006 5:21 pm US/Eastern
Dodds Remains Hospitalized For Hypothermia
DOVER, NH (CBS4) ―
New Hampshire congessional candidate Gary Dodds remained hospitalized Saturday following a bizarre ordeal in which he crashed his car and got lost in the woods for more than 24 hours.
Dodds crashed his car on the Spaulding Turnpike in Dover Wednesday night. Authorities launched an air and land search and found the 41-year-old Rye resident in a wooded area on Thursday night.
Dodds wife, Cindy, told the media on Friday that her husband became disoriented after bumping his head and ran out of the car because he thought it was on fire. Dodds also swam across the nearby Bellamy River. He was found by a volunteer and search dog, huddled under a pile of leaves.
Dodds is being treated for hypothermia at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Dodds' former campaign manager, Corey Corbin told the Portsmouth Herald that a lack of food may have contributed to the single-car crash. Corbin also described Dodds as an aggressive driver.
State Police Lt. Robert Quinn said no charges have been filed against Dodds, but an investigation into his auto accident and subsequent disappearance is ongoing.
Dodds' wife denied reports that her husband is hypoglycemic, but she told the Portsmouth Herald he hadn't eaten since 10 a.m. Wednesday, 10 hours before his auto accident.
Corbin said he has seen the effects of Dodds' blood sugar dipping. "He'll start babbling incoherently," said Corbin. "And he falls asleep."
Corbin was fired by Dodds in February.
Dodds says he will take time to recover but will stay in the race for New Hampshire's first congressional seat.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
