Massachusetts Man Accused Of Wrong-Way Drunken Driving On I-89 In NH

CONCORD, NH — A man from Massachusetts was arrested on drunken driving charges after being accused of traveling the wrong way on Interstate 89 in Sutton on Tuesday.

Around 11:50 p.m., a New Hampshire State Police trooper, working a construction detail, reported to dispatch that their cruiser was almost struck by a wrong-way driver. The cruiser had its emergency lights activated at the time, Amber Lagace, a public information officer for state police, said.

“The vehicle swerved just before hitting the cruiser and continued traveling south in the northbound lanes,” she said. “Shortly thereafter, the trooper was able to identify that the vehicle randomly stopped in the middle of the highway, thus allowing the trooper to position himself to intercept the vehicle.”

After an investigation, Matthew Hart, 38, of Wareham, MA, was arrested on felony reckless conduct with a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated charges. A passenger, a woman from Virginia, was taken into protective custody due to her impairment level, Lagace said. They were both taken to the Merrimack County Jail.

Lagace said the vehicle was seized and a search warrant requested. Other charges may be forthcoming, she said.

State police were assisted by the New London Police Department. The left lane of the highway was closed for a short period of time.

All aspects of the case remain under investigation, Lagace said. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident was asked to contact Trooper Samuel Provenza at Samuel.P.Provenza@dos.nh.gov or 603-223-6162.

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