At approximately 8:04 pm on Sunday, October 22nd, Rochester Police, Fire, and Frisbie EMS responded to Wakefield Street, in the area of the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center and McDonald’s restaurant, for a single care motor vehicle accident involving a struck pedestrian where it was reported a car drove into a Coast bus stop and struck someone inside the bus stop enclosure.
Emergency personnel arrived on scene to find a black Jeep Grand Cherokee into a fence and the enclosure completely destroyed with an injured male nearby.
Initial investigation indicates the Jeep, operated by Elizabeth Laroche, 22, of Strafford, was traveling south on Wakefield Street when it veered off the roadway and struck the bus stop enclosure and striking a male, 60-year-old Timothy Umling of Rochester, who was resting inside.
Umling was conscious and alert but had apparent minor injuries and was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital to be evaluated further. Laroche was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.
Due to the unknown status of Umling’s further evaluation, the Strafford County Regional Technical Accident Reconstruction Team was called in to assist with the accident investigation as a precaution.
As a result of the premilitary investigation, Laroche was arrested for Driving Under the Influence, Reckless Operation, and Use of Electronic Mobile Devices While Driving. Laroche was bailed and released and issued a court date for November 30, 2023.
