Crime
The trooper put his cruiser “in the path of the wrong-way driver in an effort to end the possibility of tragedy to anyone else,” police said.
New Hampshire State Police
A 21-year-old woman is facing multiple charges following a Sunday collision with a state trooper while she was traveling in the wrong direction on Route 101 in Exeter, New Hampshire, authorities said.
Cassandra Aldecoa, of Dover, was driving east in the westbound lanes around 1:45 a.m., according to a statement from New Hampshire State Police.
Trooper Shane McClure, who was responding along with other personnel, encountered Aldecoa’s vehicle between Exit 8 and Exit 9 while he was driving west, police said.
“Knowing that he had passed multiple other vehicles while searching for the wrong-way driver, he knew that there were many other innocent drivers in danger,” police said. “Trooper McClure then placed his fully-marked State Police patrol cruiser in the path of the wrong-way driver in an effort to end the possibility of tragedy to anyone else.”
Aldecoa’s Nissan Kicks then collided with the cruiser, according to police.
Following the crash, Aldecoa was arrested and faces felony counts of reckless conduct, second-degree assault, and criminal mischief, court documents show. She was additionally charged with misdemeanor offenses for driving under the influence and aggravated DUI.
A passenger in the car, identified as Zachary Lapierre, 21, of Lebanon, Maine, was charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, contempt, and violating conditions of release, according to court records.
All three individuals were evaluated by medical personnel and found to have no significant injuries, police said.
Aldecoa and Lapierre were arraigned Monday morning in Brentwood District Court. Aldecoa pleaded not guilty and is in custody, according to a spokesperson for the New Hampshire District Courts.
Lapierre was released on personal recognizance, with his next hearing scheduled for July 7, the spokesperson said.
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