Staff reports 7:54 a.m.
Saturday, October 26, 2024 7:53 am
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ROCHESTER - The Rochester man behind the wheel of a vehicle that struck and killed the commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard last month is facing up to 15 years in state prison after his indictment on felony negligent homicide charges earlier this month.
Paul Clement, 81, of Rochester, was arrested in August and charged in the hit-and-run that occurred July 8 taking the life of John Pogorek, 57, of Strafford.
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.
The indictment accuses Clement of driving "under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or a controlled drug ... while operating a motor vehicle."
Pogorek was named commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard in 2022, and his duties included keeping Adj. General David J. Mikolaities and Gov. Chris Sununu apprised of all matters related to the New Hampshire Air National Guard. He was also responsible for all operations at the base.
The October Strafford County grand jury indictments were handed down on Oct. 17 and released to the public on Friday.