NH Man Driving UTV Arrested After His Wife, Friend Die In Crash

CANDIA, NH — The man who NH Fish and Game said was operating a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) in Candia on Sunday, where two passengers were killed, has been charged.

James Shankle, 48, of Candia was arraigned in Rockingham County Superior Court on two counts of negligent homicide-DUI, according to Lt Adam Cheney of New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Candia police, fire, and New Hampshire Fish and Game responded to a call from a neighbor of 360 Chester Road at about 7:35 p.m. reporting two people were possibly dead in a UTV accident. The accident was reported to be in a wooded area behind the address.

When responders arrived at the scene, they found two people on the ground thrown from the vehicle. The woman was thrown about 15 feet and responders attempted CPR but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was thrown from the vehicle and appeared to hit a tree and was deceased.

Lt. Adam Cheney of Fish and Game identified the two people who died as Renee Shankle, 50, of Candia, and Alan Juza, 62, of Goffstown.

James Shankle was transported to the Elliot Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Renee Shankle, according to multiple social media posts, was James Shankle's wife.

Court paperwork stated a Candia police officer at the scene was told Shankle was operating the Red Polaris 400. Shankle initially told police the UTV had an accelerator that was stuck and there was a steering malfunction. An investigation showed there was no sign the operator attempted to brake, according to documents.

In a photograph from the scene, included in the affidavit, a conservation officer indicates several empty beer cans were on the ground, and one partial beer was found in the vehicle. As police and conservation officers spoke to Shankle he had a “strong odor of alcohol in his breath” and told the officers he had drank “8 to 10 beers,” according to the report. A search warrant was requested for a blood draw from Shankle and issued by a judge.

Court paperwork indicates Shankle said several times “I just killed my wife and best friend.”

The vehicle was impounded and removed from the scene for further evaluation.

Lt Cheney said the Polaris 400 has a single bench seat, and it appears no occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. It does not appear anyone was wearing helmets that Cheney said are not required, but recommended

Candia property tax records indicate James and Renee Shankle own a home at 370 Chester Road. A business named JWS Custom Decks is also listed at the address. According to online information, James Shankle is the owner of the business.