Police end elderly wrong-way driver's misadventure by nudging car into barrier

Scene of last night's bizarre wrong way driving incident in Hampton (NHSP photo)

HAMPTON - A 79-year-old Massachusetts man headed north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 led police on a chase that didn't end until a New Hampshire State Trooper used his cruiser to nudge the vehicle into a jersey barrier just north of the Hampton tolls early today.

The bizarre incident unfolded around 1:15 a.m. when troopers from the New Hampshire State Police Troop A Barracks received reports of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 95 in Seabrook. Initial reports from concerned motorists indicated that the vehicle was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes on I-95 in the area of Exit 1.

As troopers responded to the area, motorists continued to provide updated locations of the vehicle and confirmed that the vehicle was continuing to travel in the wrong direction on the interstate approaching the area of the Hampton Toll Plaza.

In response to updated information provided by concerned motorists, 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 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.

Despite these initial efforts of Sankowich and North Hampton Police Officers, the vehicle bypassed the cruisers and continued in the wrong direction on the interstate. Sankowich then 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, Sankowich used his cruiser to make contact with the vehicle, forcing it into jersey barrier on the shoulder of the southbound lanes, finally bringing the vehicle to a stop.

As a result of the contact, the cruiser sustained minor damage, while the subject vehicle sustained disabling damage.

After the vehicle had been brought to a complete stop, troopers identified the vehicle as a 2010 Hyundai Sonata being operated by David Garriss, 79, of Swampscott, Mass. During an on-scene investigation, troopers determined Garriss was not injured but appeared disoriented and confused which contributed to his manner of operation.

As a precaution, Garriss and an elderly female passenger, the only two occupants in the vehicle, 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.

While troopers investigated the scene and emergency personnel worked to facilitate the removal of the involved vehicle, one lane of the open road toll section of the Hampton Toll Plaza was closed for approximately 40 minutes.

All aspects of this incident remain under investigation by Trooper Peter Sankowich. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident or who may have witnessed the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on the interstate is asked to contact Trooper Sankowich at Peter.S.Sankowich@dos.nh.gov or by contacting New Hampshire State Police Headquarters at (603) 223-4381.