CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety has begun a speeding and distracted driving enforcement initiative on Interstate 93.
The effort started Saturday. New Hampshire Department of Safety Assistant Commissioner Eddie Edwards said speeding and distracted driving caused increased crashes that were preventable.
“Alongside our partners from state, county and local law enforcement agencies, our goal is to change negative driving behaviors and save lives,” he said.
Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The enforcement will focus primarily in Merrimack and Belknap counties, from Boscawen to Plymouth. Nine people have been killed in more than 1,000 crashes in that section of the highway during the past five years. In 2023, there were 122 fatal crashes in New Hampshire and 11, so far, in 2024.
Also Read
DUI Arrest On Everett Turnpike After Crash
A man from Nashua will be in court next month after being accused of drunken driving after a crash near Exit 1 on the Everett Turnpike in Nashua.
Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Around 3:45 p.m. on Feb. 15, state police and Nashua fire and rescue teams were sent to the southbound side of the highway near Exit 1 for a two-vehicle crash. When they arrived, they found a 2011 BMW 3-Series had collided with a 2019 Lexus RX450H. Both vehicles, state police said, sustained heavy damage during the crash and were blocking lanes of travel.
The drive of the BMW, James Eppolito, 23, of Nashua, was accused of “driving at a very high rate of speed prior to running off the roadway and striking a guardrail, before bouncing off of it striking and striking the 2019 Lexus,” a press statement said. He was charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving. The driver of the Lexus, a Lowell, Massachusetts, driver in their early-60s along with occupants in the vehicle were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua with minor injuries. Eppolito, the report stated, refused medical treatment.
Eppolito was is due in Nashua District Court in March.
The highway was shut down for about 40 minutes, state police said.
Anyone with information about the crash was asked to contact Trooper Evan Puopolo at [email protected].
NY Man Presented False Medical Certificate: Troopers
A man from Plattsburg, New York, was accused of presenting a fraudulent medical certificate during a traffic stop of a commercial vehicle.
On Feb. 14, a Troop G trooper stopped a vehicle in Twin Mountain owned by Compton Products of New York. During an inspection of the vehicle, the driver, Edmund Combs, 66, was accused of presenting a medical certificate allowing him to operate the vehicle that was fraudulent.
“Drivers of commercial motor vehicles operating in commerce are required to possess a current, valid medical certificate,” state police said. “This requirement ensures that truckers are healthy and capable of performing the regular duties of their job.”
Combs was arrested and charged with forgery and tampering with public records. He was released on personal recognizance and will appear in Littleton District Court in April 2024.
Troop A Blotter
Andrew Jeremiah Newcomb, 25, of Dover was arrested at 3:20 a.m. on Feb. 11, 2024, on driving under the influence and speeding-21 to 24 mph over the 65 limit charges in Greenland.
Gregory S. Vandam, 62, of Port Royal, South Carolina, was arrested at 7:01 p.m. on Feb. 10 on aggravated DUI-0.16-plus, DUI, and disobeying an officer charges as well as failure to dim lights, lane control, failure to use required turn signals, and stop signs; yield signs violations in Hampton.
Charles Peter Xenos, 49, of Rochester was arrested on a simple assault charge at 12:17 p.m. on Feb. 10 in Rochester.
Charlie J. Bardwell, 43, of Manchester was arrested at 4 p.m. on Feb. 9 on reckless operation and false report of a motor vehicle accident and an unsafe lane change violation in Auburn.
Jacoby Michael Bernier, 26, of Raymond was arrested at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 on a reckless operation charge in Raymond.
Glenda Madrid Lopez, 30, of Manchester was arrested at 5:49 a.m. on Feb. 8 on speeding-25-plus over 65 limit and an operating without a valid license charges in Epping.
Click Here: Giorgio Chiellini jersey sale
Jacob Michael Martin, 30, of Dover was charged at 9:08 p.m. on Feb. 7 with having an unofficial inspection-registration decal in Rochester.
Kyle Patrick Norris, 25, of Somersworth on arrested on a reckless operation charge at 12:54 a.m. on Feb. 7 in North Hampton.
Jonatas Guimaraes DaSilva, 26, of Newton, Massachusetts, was arrested at 6:50 p.m. on Feb. 6 on an operating without a valid license charge and a duty when approaching highway emergency violation in North Hampton.
Nikita M. Currier, 38, of Rochester was arrested on a DUI charge in Dover at 11:52 p.m. on Feb. 5.
Johanne Murielle Tardiff, 48, of Litchfield was arrested at 8:39 p.m. on Feb. 5 on two counts of driving after revocation or suspension, driving without giving proof, and operating with an expired license charges as well as lane control, uninspected vehicle, and littering violations in Greenland.
Troop B Blotter
Adonis R. Delos Santos Carrion, 27, of Manchester was arrested at 8:24 p.m. on Feb. 11 on possession of controlled drug and transport drugs in a motor vehicle charges as well as a traffic control device violation in Manchester.
Leann L. Baldock, 46, of Londonderry was arrested at 8:58 a.m. on Feb. 11 on a driving after revocation or suspension charge and a suspension of vehicle registration violation in Manchester.
John Ross Sample, 39, of Boston, MA, was arrested at 6:07 p.m. on Feb. 10 on a DUI charge and a lane control violation in Londonderry.
Matthew Coelho, 37, of Nashua was arrested on a bench warrant at 1:55 p.m. on Feb. 8 on DUI, driving after revocation or suspension, reckless operation, negligent driving, and operating without a valid license charges in Merrimack.
Cameron James Jennerjohn, 36, of Bedford was arrested at 4:31 p.m. on a warrant on Feb. 7 on felony habitual offender, three counts of driving after revocation or suspension, motor vehicle not equipped with alcohol interlock device, driving without giving proof, and operating without a valid license charges and an uninspected vehicle violation in Manchester.
Mark Stephen Sartell, 31, of New Boston was arrested at 3:19 p.m. on Feb. 6 on DUI, reckless operation, transport drugs in a motor vehicle, and possession of a controlled drug charges in Manchester.
Rickie Duncan, 68, of Nashua was arrested at 1:11 p.m. on Feb. 6 on driving after revocation or suspension and driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent charges as well as suspension of vehicle registration, uninspected vehicle, and unregistered vehicle violations in Bedford.
Anthony Joseph Cherbonneau, 18, of Manchester was arrested at 9:24 p.m. on Feb. 5 on a driving after revocation or suspension charge as well as suspension of vehicle registration, unregistered vehicle, and uninspected vehicle violations in Bedford.
Mufik Mehmedovic, 31, of Manchester was arrested at 8:53 p.m. on Feb. 5 on two driving after revocation or suspension counts and a disobeying an officer charge in Manchester.
Troop D Blotter
Megan Gene Elwell, 43, of Lawrence, MA, was arrested at 9:17 p.m. on Feb. 11 was arrested on aggravated DUI-attempt to elude, DUI, falsifying physical evidence, transport drugs in a motor vehicle, simple assault, resisting arrest or detention, possession of a controlled drug, possession of a controlled drug-subsequent, and two disobeying an officer charges in Manchester.
Shania Lynn Weber, 27, of Penacook was arrested on a warrant in Bow at 9:13 p.m. on Feb. 11.
Jacob S. Geringer, 25, of Merrimack was arrested at 2:12 a.m. on Feb. 11 on a DUI charge in Concord.
Michael Haith Hamel, 18, of Allenstown was arrested at 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 11 on a reckless operation charge in Bow.
Kelsey Rose Blanchard, 31, of Franklin was arrested on a warrant at 10:13 p.m. on Feb. 10 in Concord .
Brent L. Keyser, 38, of Penacook was arrested on two warrants at 9:52 p.m. on Feb. 10 as well as driving after revocation or suspension charge in Concord.
Heidi D. Shea, 44, of Deerfield was arrested at 9:11 p.m. on Feb. 10 on aggravated DUI-passenger under 16 and DUI charges in Concord.
Crystal Lynn Peacock, 23, of Newport was arrested at 8:28 p.m. on Feb. 10 on driving after revocation or suspension, DUI, and DUI-third charges as well as an open container violation in Concord.
Alfredo Pichasaca, 32, of Lowell, MA, was arrested at 3:06 p.m. on Feb. 10 on reckless operation, negligent driving, and operating without a valid license charges, and two child restraint violations. Also arrested was Chuto Geovanny, 26, of Lowell, MA, on reckless operation and negligent driving charges. They were both arrested in Concord.
Daniel Kevin Joseph Boothby, 36, of Newport was arrested at 1 p.m. on Feb. 10 on two resisting arrest or detention charges in Salisbury.
A 17-year-old from Concord was arrested at 3:39 a.m. on two warrants on Feb. 10 as well as two driving after revocation or suspension counts and driver’s license and yellow-solid line violations in Hooksett.
Jordan K. Lapierre, 33, of Concord was arrested at 9:59 p.m. on Feb. 9 on driving after revocation or suspension, DUI-second offense, and speeding-21 to 24 mph over the limit of 55 or less charges in Concord.
Reginald Lawshawn Pygum, 32, of Franklin was arrested at 10:34 a.m. on Feb. 9 on operating without a valid license and speeding-16 to 20 mph over the 70 limit charges in Concord.
Lalta Palawan, 35, of Charlestown, Rhode Islands, was arrested at 1:23 a.m. on Feb. 9 on DUI and reckless conduct-deadly weapon charges in Hooksett.
Kara M. Huckins, 33, of Concord was arrested at 11:01 p.m. on Feb. 8 on a DUI-second offense charge in Concord.
Christopher M. Hubbell, 34, of Londonderry was arrested on a warrant at 7:56 p.m. on Feb. 8 in Concord.
Jonathan M. Scribner, 28, of Barnstead was arrested on a warrant at 12:20 a.m. on Feb. 8 in Boscawen.
Katrina May Wright, 57, of Manchester was arrested at 10:55 p.m. on Feb. 7 on a DUI charge and a failure to use required turn signal violation in Concord.
Michael Tyler Leard, 26, of Manchester was arrested at 10:31 p.m. on Feb. 7 on felony habitual offender, operating without a valide license, driving after revocation or suspension, and speeding-16 to 20 mph over the 65 limit charges in Bow.
Christa Shelby Young, 36, of Manchester was arrested on a criminal trespass charge in Concord at 3:41 p.m. on Feb. 7.
Shaun Leary, 38, of Concord was arrested at 1:38 a.m. on Feb. 7 on driving after revocation or suspension, driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent, driving without giving proof, and operating without a valid license charges and a bench warrant in Bow.
Garrett Rogenski, 29, of Warner was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge at 10 p.m. on Feb. 6. He was arrested again 41 minutes later on a warrant. Rogenski was arrested in Concord.
Richard Gomez, 37, of Lawrence, MA, was arrested at 1:41 a.m. on Feb. 5 on aggravated DUI-attempt to elude and aggravated DUI-30-plus mph, DUI, disobeying an officer, reckless conduct, driving after revocation or suspension, reckless operation, and resisting arrest or detention charges in Bow. Read more about this case here: Mass. Man Faces Charges After Concord Drunken Driving Chase: NHSP
Do you have a news tip? Please email it to [email protected]. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.