Authorities say a 25-year-old woman was drunk behind the wheel when she allegedly sideswiped a New Hampshire State Police cruiser and a tow truck on a Newington, N.H., highway earlier this month and continued driving.
In a statement Friday, State Police identified the driver as Robyn Dubois, of Dover, N.H. Dubois has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, as well as additional charges for allegedly fleeing the scene and failing to move over for an emergency vehicle.
State Police said the incident occurred at 12:47 a.m. Feb. 5 on the Spaulding Turnpike northbound at Exit 4.
“Troopers Nathan Sleight and Lauren Hervieux of the NH State Police Troop A Barracks conducted a motor vehicle stop that led to a Driving While Intoxicated arrest,’’ the release said, and while “still on scene with the tow truck that was requested to remove this vehicle, Trooper Sleight’s cruiser and a Lafayette Towing flatbed tow truck were both side-swiped by a passing motorist who fled the scene. Trooper Sleight and the individual he had in custody, were both inside his cruiser at the time of this crash. Trooper Hervieux and several passengers were standing between Trooper Sleight’s cruiser and the tow truck.’’
It was a close call for the driver of the tow truck, 18-year-old Aaron M. Wessling, of Epping, N.H.
State Police said Wessling was “standing just outside the open driver’s side door of his tow truck and narrowly avoided being struck by jumping into the tow truck’s cab. No one on scene sustained injuries during this crash.’’
Troopers quickly put out a description of the vehicle.
“A short time later, Dover Police Department personnel located a vehicle matching the description in a driveway on Boston Harbor Road in Dover,’’ according to the statement, which described it as a silver 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser.
The probe led investigators to Dubois, who allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.16, twice the legal limit for driving, according to State Police. She submitted to a breath test during the booking process.
“The contributing factors leading to this crash were determined to be Dubois’ impairment and her violation of the move-over law,’’ the release said.
Arraignment dates on the various charges are slated for March 12 and 25.
“Anyone who witnessed this collision or who has additional information pertaining to this incident is urged to contact Sergeant Jacob Woodat Jacob.Wood@dos.nh.gov,’’ the statement said.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.