RI Woman Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver in I-89 Crash

LEBANON, NH - A Rhode Island woman was killed on I-89 last night after an alleged drunk driver, traveling in the wrong direction, struck her vehicle, according to police.

Daniel Cowdrey, 38, of Hartland, VT, was arrested on May 25, 2016, and charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire State Police. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link, which explains New Hampshire Patch's police log name removal policy.

According to New Hampshire State Police, at just before 9 p.m., troopers were sent to a two-vehicle collision in the southbound side of I-89 just south of Exit 20.

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The initial investigation, according to Sgt. Steven Wheeler of the NHSP, revealed that Cowdrey was allegedly traveling north in the southbound lane and collided with a Nissan Versa being operated by Ellynn Koelsch of North Kingston, RI, in “near head-on fashion.” Cowdrey suffered minor injuries.

Koelsch, however, sustained life threatening injuries at the scene and succumbed to her injuries. A 4-year-old boy in Koelsch’s vehicle was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with serious injuries.

Cowdrey was arrested at the scene.

“The crash investigation is being handled by the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit (C.A.R. Unit) with assistance by the Lebanon Police Department and New Hampshire State Police Troop D, Lebanon Fire & Rescue and New Hampshire Department of Transportation. The highway’s southbound side was closed, with detours, for about six hours during the investigation, according to the NH DOT.

“At this time, it does appear that drugs or alcohol were factors as well as driving the wrong way on the interstate,” according to Wheeler. “However, all aspects of the crash remain under investigation by the C.A.R. Unit.”

Anyone that may have further information related to this crash is being asked to contact Trooper Thomas Conlon 603-223-8614 or email at thomas.conlon@dos.nh.gov.

According to her online profile, Koelsch was a physical therapist with a practice in East Providence, RI.