Comment
Print
ROCHESTER - Beginning a week from today Club Victoire will lose its liquor license for at least 20 days following the New Hampshire Liquor Commission's ruling that it overserved alcohol to several patrons including to the Rochester driver who struck and killed the commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard in July of 2024.
Paul Clement, 82, of Rochester, was arrested the next month and charged in the hit-and-run that occurred July 8 taking the life of John Pogorek, 57, of Strafford, who was the commander at Pease.
Clement turned himself in after Rochester Police issued a warrant for his arrest.
The accident occurred around 5:20 p.m. on July 8 in the area of Crown Point Road in Rochester. Officers who responded were told that Pogorek had pulled his truck and trailer to the side of the road to fix a strap that was holding down hay he was hauling. While resecuring a strap a vehicle struck Pogorek. The suspect vehicle did not stop and continued traveling down the road. Pogorek was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident.
Not long after the accident, police received a tip that Clement was the driver of the vehicle that struck Pogorek. Police located Clement and the vehicle, and the vehicle was impounded.
An October indictment accuses Clement of driving "under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or a controlled drug ... while operating a motor vehicle."
He stands charged with negligent homicide.
Meanwhile, Club Victoire has been levied a fine of $8,500 and will serve a 30-day suspension of its liquor license, with 10 days of the suspension put on hold for one year if there are no further violations.
Club Victoire will also be assessed 16 points against its liquor license for three years. If an establishment accrues 25 points, its license can be revoked.
The club will also be required to hold classes for all staff involved in serving alcohol.
All material on this site is copyright protected under penalty of federal law