‘Grinch’ damages New Hampshire venue’s sign in Christmas crash, police say

Off Beat[1]

"We're amazed and so very glad no one was hurt, but imagine our surprise when we raced outside to assist and found...the Grinch!?!"

A 31-year-old Exeter man dressed in a full Grinch costume crashed outside a local performance venue on Christmas night. The Word Barn/Facebook

Police in New Hampshire[2] responded to a Christmas night car crash and were surprised to learn that the man behind the wheel was none other than the Grinch. The driver -- a 31-year-old Exeter man wearing a full Grinch costume -- veered off the road and crashed in front of a local performance venue Monday, Exeter police explained in a Facebook post[3].

Emergency crews responded to The Word Barn[4] at 66 Newfields Road just before 6 p.m. and found the man sitting in a damaged SUV. According to police, the driver was apparently distracted as he neared a curve on Newfields Road, causing him to drive off the roadway. The Word Barn's sign, mailbox, and several walkway lights were damaged in the crash.

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"We're amazed and so very glad no one was hurt, but imagine our surprise when we raced outside to assist and found ... the Grinch!?!" The Word Barn wrote in a Facebook post[5]. "Can't make this stuff up."

The venue shared several photos from the scene of the crash, showing the significantly damaged car and the driver clad in his green, fuzzy finest -- mask and all. The man denied having any injuries but was taken to Exeter Hospital, according to police. The crash remains under investigation.

"This was certainly a unique situation," Exeter Police Chief Stephan Poulin said in a statement. "Officers never expected to arrive at the scene to find that an operator was wearing a Grinch suit behind the wheel, but it was Christmas night so not entirely outside the realm of possibility.

Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt."

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References

1. ^ Off Beat (www.boston.com)
2. ^ New Hampshire (www.boston.com)
3. ^ Facebook post (www.facebook.com)
4. ^ The Word Barn (www.thewordbarn.com)
5. ^ Facebook post (www.facebook.com)