Elderly Wrong-Way Driver Safely Stopped By State Police In Merrimack

MERRIMACK, NH — New Hampshire State Police safely stopped a wrong-way driver who was traveling south in the northbound lane of Interstate 293 and also the Everett Turnpike Monday.

State Police Troop B dispatch began receiving multiple reports of a wrong-way driver in the area of Mile Marker 7.4 on I-293 in the city of Manchester at about 1:30 p.m.

Witnesses reported a minivan traveling the wrong way, southbound in the northbound lanes. Troopers from the Troop B Barracks responded to the area, first encountering the vehicle on the F.E. Everett Turnpike north of the Bedford Toll Plaza, traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.

The operator of the suspect vehicle disregarded the emergency signals of a responding trooper, continuing to travel the wrong way on the turnpike.

As the suspect vehicle’s location was relayed, troopers coordinated rolling roadblocks to protect the motoring public from the wrong-way driver.

Additional witnesses advised that the suspect vehicle had corrected its direction by traveling onto the southbound side of the turnpike.

The suspect vehicle was located off of Exit 11 then on Continental Boulevard in Merrimack. Responding troopers successfully stopped the suspect vehicle and made contact with the operator who was identified as David J. Coburn, 84, of Goffstown.

Upon contacting Coburn, troopers identified he was experiencing a medical emergency. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital for evaluation and treatment. The New Hampshire State Police were assisted in this incident by Merrimack Fire Department and Merrimack Police Department.

The investigation of this incident is ongoing. Trooper Moran is handling the investigation, and anyone with information about the incident contact him at 603-223-4381 or by email at William.J.Moran@dos.nh.gov.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news