Three pedestrians seriously injured in hit-and run-crash

Staff reports 8:36 a.m.


ROCHESTER - Three pedestrians were seriously injured, including one who had to Medflighted, after they were struck in a hit and run accident Monday night on Rochester Hill Road.

Just a few hours later police identified the driver of the suspect car as a Chevy Cobalt and Dawn Sandler, 48, of South Berwick, Maine, as the driver, however no arrests have yet been made as details of the incident are investigated.

The incident occurred around 8:10 p.m. in the area of the Hi Vu Motor Inn after the three had reportedly gotten off a bus and were attempting to cross the street.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel located the three in the southbound lane of travel lying on the road with severe injuries. The road was shut down as emergency personnel tended to the injured as scattered debris surrounded the scene.

One pedestrian was transported via LifeFlight helicopter with serious, life-threatening injuries, while the other two were transported to Portsmouth Hospital with serious injuries.

After a preliminary police investigation it was learned the pedestrians had just gotten off a bus and were crossing the road when the south traveling vehicle struck all three in the southbound lane of travel before fleeing the scene and continuing south on Rochester Hill Road.

Due to the seriousness of the injuries, police withheld the names of the victims.

The Strafford County Regional Accident Reconstruction Team responded to further investigate the accident with Rochester Hill Road between Tebbetts Road and Stone Ridge Drive shut down for several hours.