Police: Drunken Driver Causes Five-Car Crash

The following is an excerpt from the Portsmouth Police log from Sunday, April 21 through Monday, April 22.

Sunday:

• At 8:42 a.m., police reported a theft of a wallet on Corporate Drive.
• At 3:28 p.m., police reported shoplifting at a Woodbury Avenue store after the caller said the shoplifter took off after stealing some merchandise.
• At 3:30 p.m., police reported criminal mischief on Van Buren Avenue. The caller said there were six to seven males playing basketball and that one of them threw a rock through a school window.
• At 3:59 p.m., police arrested a Portsmouth woman following a domestic incident. Sherry J. Coughlin, 48, of 380 Ocean Road, Apt. 3, was charged with simple assault. Police charged Coughlin with simple assault again two hours later.

Monday:

• At 12:24 a.m., police reported a motor vehicle theft on Woodbury Avenue.
• At 7:12 a.m., police reported a theft at a Route 1 Bypass southbound from a motor vehicle after some spreading bars were taken from a truck.
• At 8:35 a.m., police reported a theft from a motor vehicle at Stonecroft Apartments.
• At 11 a.m., police report a theft of some cash at Beechstone Apartments.
• At 1:51 p.m., police took a report of credit card fraud that amounted to $9,000 on Brackett Lane.
• At 3:44 p.m., police took a walk in report of identity theft on TJ Gamester Drive.
• At 4:53 p.m., police arrested a Portsmouth woman who was wanted as a fugitive from justice after she turned herself in at the police station. Diane E. Kelly, 47, of 80 Fleet St., Apt. 3-9, was wanted for possession of controlled narcotic drugs penalties.
• At 5:10 p.m., police arrested a Portsmouth woman for drunken driving on the Route 1 Bypass northbound after police say she ran a traffic light and slammed into another vehicle, which caused a five-car pile up and shut down the roadway. Deborah Ann Law, 65, of 701 Springbrook Circle was charged with driving while intoxicated.
• At 7:08 p.m., police reported theft on State Street after four patrons, two females and two males, walked out of a restaurant without paying their tab.