State troopers charge Massachusetts driver for wrong-way travel on I-93, at least 5th in Lakes Region this year

CANTERBURY — State police charged a Massachusetts driver shortly after midnight on Aug. 17, after receiving reports of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 93 southbound in Northfield.

James McGillicuddy, 35, of Medford, Massachusetts, was charged with driving under the influence and reckless conduct.

According to a media release, members of Troop D responded to the area and located a silver 2016 Subaru Crosstrek pulled over to the left shoulder of the road, facing the wrong way, by mile marker 50.6 in Canterbury.

Nobody was present with the vehicle, however while investigating Trooper John Zavala located a man near the median wood line, who exited the woods when directed. The man, later identified as McGillicuddy, had a cut above his right eye, which troopers reported came from a fall while running through the woods. They offered medical attention on scene, which McGillicuddy denied.

It was later determined the driver of the Subaru had pulled over after running out of gas.

McGillicuddy was held on preventative detention at Merrimack County Jail pending his arraignment in Concord District Court, scheduled for Monday.

In March, Gov. Kelly Ayotte formed a Highway Safety Task Force, citing a sharp rise in roadway fatalities and accidents across the state. Her announcement of the task force also pointed to a “growing trend of accidents involving wrong-way drivers and incidents of these drivers being stopped by law enforcement before they can cause a deadly accident.”

In the Lakes Region, troopers have apprehended several wrong-way drivers on I-93 so far this year.

On June 28, officers charged Brendon L. Angus, 25, of Franklin, with conduct with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence, after receiving reports of a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lane in Tilton at excessive speed.

In early February, Matthew Burt, 33, of Concord, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, two counts of felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, and counts of disobeying an officer, reckless operation and driving an unregistered vehicle. According to the report, Burt allegedly traveled 12 miles and struck three vehicles. The drivers of those vehicles were evaluated by emergency medical services as a precaution.

A week later, officers charged William Heffron Jr., 55, of Meredith, with nine counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated driving under the influence, and one count of reckless conduct.

State troopers charged Jason Buttrick, 33, of Ashland, a few days later, in response to reports of a two-vehicle crash on a Plymouth offramp. According to the report, Buttrick was driving the wrong way and collided with the other vehicle head-on, which had three occupants. All four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Buttrick was charged with felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, driving under the influence second offense, operating after suspension of driving privileges, and leaving the scene of an accident. He was also cited with a violation for reckless operation of a vehicle.

Anyone with information on the Sunday crash should contact Zavala at John.A.Zavala@dos.nh.gov.