Dover man nabbed, Milton woman hurt in DWI crash

Scene of Washington Street crash on Tuesday. (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A Dover man was arrested for felony drunken driving and both he and his passenger, a Milton woman, were seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash in the city on Tuesday morning.

John J. Davis, 34, 20 Whittier St., was arrested at Frisbie Memorial Hospital for felony level aggravated driving under the influence of drugs or liquor.

His passenger, Sarah R. Taliaferro, 37, of Milton, was trapped in the vehicle, and Rochester firefighters had to use an extrication tool to remove the passenger door to free her.

Police got the call around 10 a.m. and responded to the area of 77 Washington St., where investigation revealed that Davis was driving eastbound when his vehicle veered onto the sidewalk then struck a telephone pole.

Initially, Frisbie EMS called for a Medflight; however, inclement weather prevented them from flying.

Frisbie EMS transported Davis to Frisbie Memorial Hospital, and Farmington ambulance, which was called for mutual aid, transported Taliaferro to Frisbie Memorial Hospital. Taliaferro was later transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

The Strafford County Regional Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. Washington Street between Yale Street and Fairway Ave was closed for about three hours during the investigation.

The accident remains under investigation.