Elderly Massachusetts Wrong-Way Driver Charged With Negligent Driving In Hampton

HAMPTON, NH — An elderly driver from Massachusetts was sent to the hospital and later charged after being accused of wrong-way driving on Interstate 95 in Hampton on Monday.

Around 1:15 a.m., New Hampshire State Police began receiving calls about a car driving north in the highway's southbound lanes near Exit 1. As troopers attempted to find the vehicle, witnesses kept the department’s communications unit informed about the vehicle’s location.

A trooper spotted the 2010 Hyundai Sonata at the toll plaza and, along with help from North Hampton police, positioned their cruisers along the Interstate while using lights and audio to get the car to stop. Despite the efforts, Amber Lagace, a public information officer for state police, said the car kept driving.

“In an effort to prevent the vehicle from continuing to travel in the wrong direction toward oncoming traffic and to mitigate risk to public safety, (the) trooper utilized his cruiser to make contact with the vehicle, thereafter guiding the vehicle into a cement jersey barrier on the shoulder of the southbound lanes of the open road toll section, successfully bringing the vehicle to a stop,” she said. “As a result of the contact, the cruiser sustained cosmetic damage, and the vehicle involved sustained disabling damage, requiring the vehicle to be towed from the scene.”

Troopers spoke with the driver, David Garriss, 79, of Swampscott, MA, and while he was not injured, they accused him of appearing to be “disoriented and confused, which contributed to his manner of operation,” Lagace said.

Both Garriss and a woman who was a passenger were taken to the Seabrook Emergency Room for examination. He was later charged with negligent driving and remained at the facility until family members could pick him up.

Lagace said the highway was closed for about 40 minutes at the toll plaza.

State police were assisted at the scene by the North Hampton Police Department, North Hampton Fire Department, and Dave’s Garage.

All aspects of this incident remain under investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident or who may have witnessed the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction was asked to contact Trooper Peter Sankowich at Peter.S.Sankowich@dos.nh.gov or by contacting New Hampshire State Police Headquarters at 603-223-4381.

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