State Police Respond to Suicide on Route 140 in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — In the late hours of Saturday night, Massachusetts State Police responded to a suicide by gunshot that took place on Route 140 in New Bedford.

An official release of the incident from state police says that late last night, Troop D patrols were advised to be on the lookout for a red Ford Explorer, with an unknown Maine registration, being operated erratically on Route 24 south in Raynham.

A short time later State Police learned that the driver of the Explorer, a 32-year-old man from Millinocket, Maine, was suicidal and armed, and had threatened to shoot anyone who tried to stop him.

Shortly before midnight, a Trooper located the vehicle traveling on Route 140 in Freetown, near Exit 8. The driver refused to pull over when the Trooper attempted to stop the vehicle. As a result, Troop D Headquarters authorized pursuit of the vehicle and assumed command and control.

A short time later the man stopped his vehicle at the intersection of Route 140 and Route 6 and immediately shot himself. The man was transported by ambulance to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, where he was pronounced deceased.

No further information is being released as this time.