Trucker Indicted On Negligent Homicide In Crash That Killed NH Trooper

PORTSMOUTH, NH — A Rockingham County Grand Jury has indicted the driver of a tractor-trailer that struck the cruiser of New Hampshire State Police Staff Sgt. Jesse Sherrill and killing him.

Sherrill was in his cruiser and working a paving detail on Interstate 95 when he was struck by a tractor-trailer driven by Jay Mederios of Ashford, Connecticut.

NH State Police Colonel Noyes said that at the request of the Rockingham County Attorney's Office, New Hampshire State Police asked the Maine State Police accident reconstruction team to investigate the accident. The Maine State Police Troop K unit that specializes in commercial vehicle investigations also assisted in the investigation.

Jay Paul Medeiros, of Ashford, Connecticut, was indicted on negligent homicide and reckless conduct charges in a May grand jury session

The indictment accused Medeiros of negligently causing the death of “J.S.”

“He had Delta 9 Carboxy THC in his blood, drove a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 and despite passing at least 2 advanced warning signs and observing multiple warning/emergency lights, including a yellow direction arrow board failed to move over to the next lane and/or reduce his speed until the tractor-trailer until he was within 11 feet of the parked cruiser J.S. occupied, therefore slamming into the cruiser at a high rate of speed, causing J.S.’s death.”

The accident occurred on the northbound side of I-95, near mile Marker 14, just before Exit 3 where a tractor-trailer struck the cruiser around 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2021. Upon their arrival, responders found a cruiser that was heavily damaged and a tractor-trailer in the woods on the right side of the road.

The trooper was unresponsive and immediately transported to the Portsmouth Regional Hospital. A short time later, Sherrill succumbed to his injuries in the crash.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, treated, and released.

Sherrill, at the time of the accident, was the Assistant Troop A Commander serving with NH State Police since 2002. Prior to his service with state police, he was a police officer in Hooksett.

New Hampshire State Police Colonel Nathan Noyes said in a statement Tuesday

“The New Hampshire State Police are thankful to the Maine State Police and the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office for their extensive investigative work following this tragedy. Staff Sgt. Sherrill is missed each and every day by his family, friends, and State Police colleagues. While this legal matter remains pending, the New Hampshire State Police will continue to refer all questions regarding the crash and ensuing investigation to the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office. We also ask the public and media to continue respecting the privacy of the Sherrill family.”

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©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news