New Hampshire: In wake of crashes with cruisers, state police remind motorists to slow down in snow, move over for emergency lights

State Police Col. Robert Quinn on Tuesday had a meeting with his high command concerning what needs to be done to ensure this winter would not be a repeat of last year, when 21 police cruisers were struck in crashes, injuring five troopers and costing the state more than $200,000.

At 6 p.m. that evening, he received a text telling him a trooper's cruiser had been hit by an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer on Interstate 89 in Warner.

Trooper Chris Martineau, 23, had stopped to help a motorist who had slid off the highway at a blind curve during last Tuesday's snowstorm. A tow truck had arrived and Martineau, who was in his cruiser with its emergency lights turned on, was about to call dispatch when the truck's trailer hit the police car.

The truck driver, who state police say was driving too fast for the conditions, tried to slow down but the trailer slid to the right and hit the cruiser, pushing it 283 feet, until it ended up on the right side of the highway on an embankment.

Martineau, who was slightly injured in the crash, watched the tractor-trailer pull over and stop. Then he got out of the cruiser and went to see that the motorist and tow truck driver were OK.

When he turned back around, he saw the truck driving away. He didn't have a chance to get the plate number and his cruiser wasn't fitted with a dash camera.

State police are still hoping someone will give them a call with information that will help them track down the driver.

Police are looking for a tractor-trailer with a dark-colored cab, possibly with a sleeper. The white, box-type trailer had a Canadian registration plate, police said.

The investigation into the crash is continuing and the cruiser has not been declared totaled, although Martineau expects that determination.

"It's only a car," he said. "It can be replaced. It's not a person."

Martineau, who was scheduled to be off the two days after the crash, was fortunate, only suffering bumps and bruises and missing a single day of work.

Quinn said there are still some troopers who were injured in crashes last winter who have not returned to work.

Friday morning Quinn and first responders held a news conference to discuss increased enforcement and to urge drivers to slow down, move over and use greater caution.

Quinn said at the conference, titled "Help Protect Those Who Protect You," state police couldn't replace the cars fast enough last year

New Hampshire's "move over" law requires motorists to move over when approaching an emergency scene, including when a police officer has made a traffic stop, and to maintain a reduced speed. It carries a $75 fine for a first offense and $250 for a second offense within a 12-month period.

Two snowstorms so far this winter have resulted in 154 crashes on New Hampshire's highways: 50 on Dec. 29, resulting in eight injuries, and 104 on Jan. 12, resulting in 9 injuries.

The number of accidents in the December storm was 2.5 times greater than on average, while the number of January accidents was 5.8 times greater, police said.

In total, 39 drivers were ticketed for excessive speed for road conditions, which carries a $62 fine for the first offense and $124 for the second offense.

Quinn said when there is a dusting or less than two inches of snow on the roads, there are more crashes because people are over-confident.

He blamed them on distracted driving – texting while driving, for instance – and going too fast for the road conditions.

Quinn said it isn't just police officers, tow truck drivers, firefighters and ambulance personnel who are at risk, but other motorists who get out of their cars after crashing.

Quinn sent his condolences to the family of Lori Dawe, 31, of Derry, who was killed in Hampstead on Tuesday after she slid off Stage Road during the snowstorm, got out of her car to call for help and was struck and killed by a Jeep that skidded at the same place in the road.

He made the distinction between accidents and crashes. The state, he explained, makes extensive use of electronic message boards in storms, notifying motorists of lowered speed limits.

He said these crashes are not incidents of cars skidding on black ice on back rural roads. Motorists sometimes get as much as a day's notice, so they can allow extra time to get to their destinations.

Snow and ice-covered highways can result in treacherous driving conditions. Quinn said stopping distances at highway speeds in poor conditions with snow can take twice the amount of time as on a clear day with dry roads.

For instance, a car going 70 miles per hour in snowy conditions needs a stopping distance of 807 feet. At 45 miles per hour, 369 feet is needed. To put that in perspective, a football field including the end zones is 360 feet long.

Rene Fortin, president of the New Hampshire Towing Assn., said a tow truck driver is killed every six days across the country. Fortin urged motorists to slow down whenever they see amber lights.