State Police Accuse Woman Of Wrong-Way Driving In Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, NH — A Dover woman is due in Rockingham County Superior Court in July to face driving while intoxicated and reckless conduct after being accused of wrong-way driving in Portsmouth.

At just before midnight, a state police marine patrol officer traveling on Route 16 South in Portsmouth saw a Subaru Legacy facing the wrong-way and stopped in the breakdown lane of the highway. The driver, Adrienne Lessard, 33, of Dover, was identified as the lone occupant as other state troopers were called to the scene, according to Lt. John Hennessey of Troop A.

"During the process of this investigation, it was determined that Lessard entered the Portsmouth Traffic Circle from the Route 1 Bypass South," Hennessey said. "After entering the traffic circle, Lessard drove over the curbing and through the grass median, which separates the ramps to Route 16. She then started traveling northbound on Route 16 in the southbound lanes for approximately 1/2 mile before she ultimately stopped in the breakdown lane."

A trooper accused Lessard of showing signs of impairment and asked her to perform a field sobriety test. After doing so, she was arrested on DWI and reckless conduct charges.

Lessard, Hennessey said, refused a post-arrest alcohol test and was taken straight to county. Later, she was released on bail and is due in superior court July 9.

Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is asked to contact Trooper Matthew Bailey of the New Hampshire State Police, Troop-A Barracks at 603-223-4381 or Matthew.Bailey@dos.nh.gov.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire State Police and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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