State Police Cruiser Struck On Interstate 89

SUTTON, N.H. – A Vermont man is facing multiple charges after crashing into a New Hampshire State Trooper.

On Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, State Troopers assigned to the Troop D barracks responded to a multitude of weather-related calls resulting from the Thanksgiving day snowstorm. There were dozens of reports of crashes and vehicles off the road on Interstate 89, mostly concentrated in the stretch between Warner and Lebanon.

At 10:11 a.m., a Trooper responded to assist the driver of a vehicle that had gone off the road on I-89 southbound in Sutton. The Trooper’s cruiser was fully marked with its flashing blue emergency lights activated. There was also a fully marked Department of Transportation pickup with amber lights leading up to the scene, directing drivers to ‘Move Over’ with an arrow on an electronic messaging board. As the Trooper was in the right breakdown lane assisting the driver who had gone off the road, a 2009 black Honda Accord, whose driver was traveling at speeds excessive for the existing road conditions, slid on the snow and slush and struck the rear of the State Police cruiser. The vehicle, unable to stop, then slid into the pickup truck of a fire chief who had responded to the initial crash scene. The Trooper and driver of the Accord were evaluated at New London Hospital for minor injuries. 

The driver of the Honda Accord was identified as Daniel Poroj, 22, of Shelburne, Vermont. Poroj was summonsed to appear in Hillsborough District Court on March 18, 2025, on charges of operating without a valid license, negligent driving, unregistered vehicle, duty when approaching a highway emergency (Move Over law) and speed too fast for existing road conditions. 

Troop D was assisted at the scene by members of the New London Police Department, New London Fire Department, Sutton Fire Department, Northeast Towing and Recovery, S&P Auto and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. The New Hampshire State Police remind drivers that state law requires them to slow down, move over and give a wide berth to highway emergencies, including stationary police, fire, EMS, tow and roadside assistance vehicles. If a crash or first responders have blocked a lane, drivers should maintain a reduced speed and give plenty of space without endangering oncoming traffic. Violators face a fine of $75 plus a penalty assessment for a first offense and $250 plus a penalty assessment for a subsequent offense in a 12-month period.