HITS 95 Local News Update - Morning Update - Monday May 18, 2026

Wrong-Way Crash on Route 101 Ends in Arrest

A Dover woman is facing multiple charges after New Hampshire State Police say she drove the wrong way on Route 101 in Exeter early Sunday and crashed into a state police cruiser.

Authorities say 21-year-old Cassandra Aldecoa was traveling east in the westbound lanes near Exit 9 around 1:45 a.m. Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle before it collided with a cruiser. No serious injuries were reported.

Aldecoa now faces several felony charges, including reckless conduct and second-degree assault, along with aggravated DUI. Her passenger also faces misdemeanor charges.

State police say wrong-way driving remains a serious concern, with more than 800 reports statewide since 2023.

Seacoast Pizza Shops See Early Summer Surge

New Hampshire beach businesses say this season is off to a much stronger start than last year, with warm weather already drawing crowds to the Seacoast.

Popular beach pizza spots like Cristy’s in Hampton and Tripoli Pizza in Seabrook report higher demand weeks before summer officially begins. Owners say last year’s rainy weather slowed business, but this season customers — and pizza lines — are already back in full force.

Rare Orange Lobsters Found at Seabrook Market Basket

A rare discovery at a Seabrook Market Basket over the weekend, where an employee found not one, but two orange lobsters in a shipment.

Scientists say the odds of finding a single orange lobster are as high as one in 30 million, making two at once extremely unusual. Experts say the rare coloring is caused by a genetic mutation affecting shell pigments. The lobsters are now being kept at the store while managers decide what happens next.