Elderly Driver Cited for Crashing into State Trooper Cruiser

NASHUA, NH - A local woman was cited for violating New Hampshire’s “move over law” after reportedly driving her car into a state police cruiser that was on the side of the Everett Turnpike helping a distressed driver, according to New Hampshire State Police.

At around 10 a.m., a state trooper on the turnpike near the Exit 5A off-ramp was assisting a Jeep that was on the side of the road due to running out of fuel, according to a report. The trooper was pulled behind the Jeep with its cruiser’s emergency lights on and was out of the vehicle, assisting a woman putting fuel into the Jeep.

A 79-year-old woman – Carolyn Mulrooney of Nashua – then reportedly drove her Toyota Avalon into the rearend of the cruiser pushing the vehicle into the back of the Jeep.

“Mulrooney was transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital and treated for minor injuries,” according to Sgt. S. Callinan of the NHSP. “Mulrooney was also cited for the Move Over Law-Motorist Duties When Approaching Highway Emergencies.”

Assisting at the crash was personnel from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and members of the Nashua Fire and Police Departments.

“Motorists should be reminded that when they are approaching highway emergencies, or incidents involving a fire, collision, disaster, or other emergency resulting in partial or complete blockage of a highway,” Callinan said, “or where a police officer is conducting a traffic stop, they should maintain a reduced speed, obey the directions of any authorized person directing traffic, vacate as soon as possible any lane wholly or partially blocked, and give a wide berth, without endangering oncoming traffic.”

This is the second time in less than a week that the move over law has been violated on the Everett Turnpike while the state police were involved in an action on the roadway.

Last Sunday in Merrimack, a state trooper was struck but a motor vehicle on the turnpike and later, take to the hospital. Eric Jackson of Amherst was later arrested and charged, after reportedly fleeing the scene of the accident.