Dover woman charged with DWI after driving wrong way on Route 16

Adrienne Lessard (New Hampshire State Police photo)

PORTSMOUTH - Police say a Dover woman was charged with drunken driving and reckless conduct on Sunday after she bolted across a median at the Portsmouth traffic circle and continued driving the wrong way on Route 16.

Adrienne Lessard, 33, was spotted about 11:55 p.m. by Officer Stephen O'Connor of the New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol as he was headed southbound on Route 16 in Portsmouth. O'Connor reported seeing a 2017 Subaru Legacy facing the wrong way, stopped in the breakdown lane.

Officers determined Lessard entered the Portsmouth traffic circle from the Route 1 Bypass south before driving over the curbing and through a grass median that separates the ramps to Route 16. She then allegedly headed northbound on Route 16 in the southbound lanes for about a half-mile before pulling over in the breakdown lane.

Police said Lessard displayed signs of possible alcohol impairment and asked her to participate in field sobriety testing. State police arrested Lessard on charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless conduct.

Lessard refused post-arrest alcohol testing and was transported to the Rockingham County jail, where she was released on bail, police said. She is scheduled to be arraigned on July 9 at Rockingham Superior Court.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked by police to contact State Trooper Matthew Bailey at 223-4381 or Matthew.Bailey@dos.nh.gov.