NH Trooper Stops Wrong-Way Driver with Patrol Car

“Trooper Sankowich positioned his cruiser alongside the vehicle at which time the vehicle still failed to yield. In an effort to prevent the vehicle from continuing to travel in the wrong direction toward oncoming traffic and to mitigate risk to public safety, Trooper Sankowich utilized his cruiser to make contact with the vehicle.

The aftermath of New Hampshire Trooper Peter Sankowich using his patrol vehicle to successfully stop a wrong-way driver. (Photo: NHSP/Facebook)The aftermath of New Hampshire Trooper Peter Sankowich using his patrol vehicle to successfully stop a wrong-way driver. (Photo: NHSP/Facebook)

A New Hampshire State Police trooper used his patrol car to ram a wrong-way driver and bring their vehicle to a stop early Monday morning.

Troopers were alerted to a wrong-way driver on I-95 in the Town of Seabrook by calls from motorists to 911.

Trooper Peter Sankowich responded to the Hampton Toll Plaza along with officers from the North Hampton Police Department. As the vehicle approached the Hampton Toll Plaza, the vehicle continued traveling in a northerly direction through the southbound lanes of the open road toll section of the Hampton Toll Plaza at which time Trooper Sankowich and North Hampton Police Officers positioned their cruisers along the interstate and began utilizing emergency lighting and audible signals in an effort to bring the vehicle to a stop.

The vehicle continued traveling in wrong direction on the interstate. “Trooper Sankowich positioned his cruiser alongside the vehicle at which time the vehicle still failed to yield. In an effort to prevent the vehicle from continuing to travel in the wrong direction toward oncoming traffic and to mitigate risk to public safety, Trooper Sankowich utilized his cruiser to make contact with the vehicle, thereafter guiding the vehicle into a cement jersey barrier on the shoulder of the southbound lanes of the open road toll section, successfully bringing the vehicle to a stop. As a result of the contact, the cruiser sustained cosmetic damage and the vehicle involved sustained disabling damage, requiring the vehicle to be towed from the scene,” New Hampshire State Police said in a Facebook statement.

The wrong-way was a 2010 Hyundai Sonata operated by David Garriss, age 79, of Swampscott, MA, police say. “During a subsequent on-scene investigation, Troopers determined that Garriss was not injured but appeared disoriented and confused which contributed to his manner of operation,” police report.

Garriss and an elderly female passenger were transported to the Seabrook Emergency Room for examination. As a result of this investigation, Garriss was charged with Negligent Driving and remained in the care of the Seabrook Emergency Room until arrangements could be made to contact family members, police say.

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