Vermont Man Faces Charges After Being Accused Of Driving Into NH State Police Cruiser

SUTTON, NH — A man from Vermont and a New Hampshire State Police trooper were sent to the hospital on Thursday morning after a crash in Sutton on Interstate 89.

The trooper was at a call on the southbound side of the highway, assisting another driver who had driven off the highway. Tyler Dumont, a public information officer for the department, said the trooper’s cruiser was “fully marked” and had its “flashing blue emergency lights activated.” A New Hampshire Department of Transportation pickup that was fully marked with lights activated and a sign, too, directing drivers to “move over” with an arrow, was also at the scene.

“As the trooper was in the right breakdown lane assisting the driver who had gone off the road, a 2009 black Honda Accord, whose driver was traveling at speeds excessive for the existing road conditions, slid on the snow and slush and struck the rear of the state police cruiser,” Dumont said. “The vehicle, unable to stop, then slid into the pickup truck of a fire chief who had responded to the initial crash scene.”

The driver of the car, Daniel Poroj, 22, of Shelburne, Vermont, was cited for was operating without a valid license, negligent driving, unregistered vehicle, duty when approaching a highway emergency (“move over” law), and speeding-too fast for existing road conditions. He is due in Hillsborough District Court on March 18, 2025.

Poroj and the trooper were evaluated at New London Hospital for minor injuries.

Dumont said state police were assisted by New London police, New London and Sutton fire and rescue teams, Northeast Towing and Recover, S&P Auto, and the NH DOT.

Dumont said Troop D troopers responded to “a multitude of weather-related calls” during the Thanksgiving snowstorm, with dozens of crashes reported on Interstate 89. Most of the crashes, he added, were between Warner and New London.

“The New Hampshire State Police remind drivers that state law requires them to slow down, move over, and give a wide berth to highway emergencies, including stationary police, fire, EMS, tow, and roadside assistance vehicles,” Dumont said. “If a crash or first responders have blocked a lane, drivers should maintain a reduced speed and give plenty of space without endangering oncoming traffic. Violators face a fine of $75 plus a penalty assessment for a first offense and $250 plus a penalty assessment for a subsequent offense in a 12-month period.”

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