Exeter, NH – Drivers traveling through Exeter early Thursday morning faced a dangerous situation after a wrong-way driver was reported on Route 101, prompting a multi-agency police response and an arrest.
According to New Hampshire State Police, dispatchers began receiving multiple 911 calls around 12:42 a.m. Thursday reporting a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Route 101 in Exeter. Troopers from the Troop A barracks responded and located the vehicle, identified as a 2020 Ram 1500 pickup truck.
Police say troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly reversed direction again and continued driving eastbound in the westbound lanes. Troopers followed the truck as it approached Exit 12, where another attempt was made to stop the vehicle. Authorities say the driver initially failed to yield before eventually exiting the highway and stopping on North Hampton Road in Exeter.
The driver was taken into custody and identified as Nathan Russell, 29, of Exeter.
During the investigation, troopers determined Russell allegedly showed signs of impairment. According to police, he was arrested and charged with felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor aggravated driving under the influence, disobeying an officer, reckless operation, and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.
Russell was held on preventive detention at the Rockingham County Jail pending an arraignment scheduled for Thursday in Brentwood District Court, police said.
State police were assisted at the scene by officers from the Stratham Police Department and the Exeter Police Department. No injuries were reported.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Patrick Vetter at Patrick.R.Vetter@dos.nh.gov.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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