Hampton woman who hit worker faces felony DWI charge
HAMPTON — The driver who struck a Galley Hatch worker on his walk home from his shift has been indicted on a felony aggravated driving while intoxicated charge.
Karen Ann Haraden, 59, of Hampton, was indicted on the charge this month by a Rockingham County grand jury. If convicted, she could face between 31⁄2 to 7 years in prison for striking Jaroslav Langer Aug. 30 on Winnacunnet Road. An indictment is not an indication of guilt, it just means the grand jury found enough evidence to warrant a trial.
Langer, 25, was walking home in the breakdown lane with a co-worker from his job at the Galley Hatch when he was allegedly struck by Haraden’s vehicle.
Haraden was charged at the scene with driving while intoxicated. Langer, who is expected to make a full recovery from injuries to his skull and body, said he holds no ill will towards Haraden.
“It’s very likely I will recover without any problem,” Langer said this week from his home in Czechia, commonly known as the Czech Republic, where he is completing his master’s degree in computer science. "It’s already gotten much better.”
Police affidavit reveals new details in case
Langer, a student worker from the Czech Republic, was employed at the Galley Hatch this summer through the J-1 visa program that allows students from abroad to work and travel on their school break in the United States. He was walking home on Winnacunnet Road at 9:37 p.m. when a police affidavit states Haraden struck him, launching him about 15 feet down the road.
Police arrived to find Langer lying on the ground with a group of people surrounding him and providing medical attention, according to the affidavit. Langer was covered in blood with lacerations above his left eye and was unconscious.
Police learned from Langer’s friends that he was walking at least five feet to the right of the solid white line when Haraden’s vehicle struck him.
A witness directed officers to Haraden’s white Subaru Legacy parked a short way up the road, according to the affidavit. Police were told by a witness that Haraden was acting “funny” as she got out of her vehicle after the crash to move to the back seat. Police say they found Haraden sitting in the back passenger seat of the car.
Haraden told police she was aware that she hit something but was unsure what it was, according to the affidavit. She described traveling on Winnacunnet Road when she saw a “dark blob” in the middle of the street, and the “blob” hit her windshield, the affidavit states.
The affidavit describes Haraden having glassy eyes, slurred speech and swaying back and forth while standing and talking to police, as well as holding onto the top of the car for balance. Officers say they found a blue bottle wrapped in a towel that appeared to be a bottle of alcohol in the vehicle. Haraden also refused multiple requests by police to conduct field sobriety tests, according to the affidavit.
When police took her into custody, an officer had to catch her because she began to fall over before getting into the cruiser, the affidavit states. She was taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where she cooperated with a blood draw, then to the Hampton Police Department to be booked. The affidavit states she was released on personal recognizance bail but was unable to obtain a sober ride and was taken into protective custody at Rockingham County Jail.
Langer expected to make a full recovery
Langer said he feels both “good luck and bad luck” as a result of his crash. He said shortly after the crash he was unsure why it needed to take place – why anyone would need to drive after drinking so much. At the same time, he said “I feel no anger.”
“It is still the same,” Langer said of his feelings Tuesday. “It might be weird.”
Langer was given some treatment in the United States but was sent home for more medical care in his home country in the weeks following the crash. He said he fractured his skull near his eye and that he may have experienced nerve damage.
Doctors tell him the nerves should grow back, he said.
The injury has impacted his vision, as he sees movement occur twice. If he waves his hand, he sees two hands move in tandem about two inches apart. He said it has slowly improved and has not slowed his progress in school. He said his knee and toe on his left leg are still hurt.
The Galley Hatch and members of the Hampton community were supportive of Langer when the crash occurred, raising more than $4,000 to help Langer, known as “Jerry” for short.
Langer said the experience has not deterred him from traveling. He intends to return to the United States at some point, next time likely to work in computer science rather than as a student worker in the kitchen.