ANOTHER NEW HAMPSHIRE OFFICER IS STRUCK AND INJURED

An Amherst police officer was hospitalized after being struck by a car Saturday afternoon August 4 during a traffic stop, state police reported. Officer Ryan Piotrowski, age and address unavailable, was walking back to his cruiser on Route 101 after releasing the stopped vehicle when a van crossed both lanes of traffic, hitting him just as he reached the cruiser door.

Piotrowski was taken to Elliot Hospital in Manchester, but his injuries do not appear to be life threatening, according to a statement from New Hampshire State Police, who were called in to investigate. The driver of the 2007 Chevy van, Hartley Scribner Jr., 61, of Plaistow, has not been charged with a crime, but police are still investigating the crash.

Scribner was not injured. It’s unclear why Scribner veered into the other lane. He was traveling east on Route 101 just before 4 p.m. when he crossed over the double yellow line, drove across the westbound lane and ended up in the breakdown lane where Piotrowski was parked, according to the statement from police. The accident occurred near Walnut Hill Road.

Amherst police are assisting in the investigation, but attempts to reach both state and Amherst police for comment were unsuccessful. State Trooper Gerard Ditolla is handling the investigation.