Teen beaten with bat still hospitalized

Manchester – (AP) – A popular teen from Weare was still hospitalized this weekend with severe head injuries after being beaten with a baseball bat.

Authorities initially reported the incident as road rage, but Ralph Rhea of Weare says his son, 18-year-old Mark Winter, was beaten by others who accused him and a friend of scratching their car.

Winter was this year’s senior prom king at John Stark Regional High School. He was in a coma and doctors fear he could have suffered brain damage.

Police said Winter was riding with a friend Wednesday night when someone pulled alongside and accused them of scratching his car. When they tried to drive away, they were boxed in by two cars, then pulled from their car and beaten.

Police still were looking for the assailants.