NH Fish & Game Search Overnight For Missing ATV Rider In Marlow

MARLOW, NH - New Hampshire Fish and Game was contacted by Cheshire County Dispatch Center Friday just before midnight of a missing ATV rider. They were advised that an individual had left a camp on an ATV located at Baine Road, Marlow at approximately 7:30 PM for a short ride and had not yet returned.

Marlow Police was on the scene attempting to locate the missing ATV rider. New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers then responded to Baine Road to attempt to locate the missing person.

Conservation Officers along with a member of the Marlow NH Family ATV Club searched the trails by foot and by ATV into the early morning of August 14th. A Conservation Officer along with the missing person’s brother made voice contact with the missing person at approximately 1:50 AM. The missing person was then located and assisted out of the woods, roughly 200 feet from his ATV. The missing person was returned to Baine Road at approximately 2:20 PM.

The missing person was identified as Matthew Stratton of Manchester, Connecticut. Upon the initial investigation, it appears that Mr. Stratton had been drinking alcohol at the camp before leaving on the ATV. Stratton also left with no shoes. Stratton became lost while riding his ATV, eventually getting the ATV stuck in the mud. Stratton then began attempting to walk back to camp in the dark barefoot with no lights.

Once Stratton was returned to safety, Conservation Officers investigated Stratton for possible signs of impairment. Roughly 7 hours after Stratton had left the camp he was still showing signs of impairment and was subsequently arrested for Driving an OHRV while intoxicated and also cited for operating an unregistered OHRV.

New Hampshire Fish and Game remind OHRV riders that alcohol does not mix with riding OHRVs. Thankfully in this situation, the operator was unharmed thanks to the teamwork of Marlow Police, Marlow NH Family ATV Club, and New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers.