On September 2, my wife and I were in an automobile accident on Route 4 near (or in) Andover. The accident occurred when another vehicle made a left turn into our vehicle. Attempting to avoid the accident, I veered right, struck a stop sign, and became lodged against a huge rock and a tree stump.

Because of concerned people on the road, 911 was called and the Andover police quickly arrived. An ambulance was called for my wife, who was injured, and she was taken to New London Hospital. A fire truck also arrived at the scene. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but my wife did need and received medical care.

The assistance we received from the bystanders at the scene was enough to make any New Hampshire resident proud. A young couple, with children in their car, remained until they were sure we were safe and being attended to by the professionals. I wish we had gotten their names. Other people reassured us that 911 had been called and help would be there.

We would both like to sincerely thank the paramedics and firemen who arrived at the scene and the personnel at New London Hospital. But mostly we would like to thank the Andover Police Department for its assistance, efficiency, and professionalism, especially Officer Dan Shaw, who was first to arrive at the scene.

Officer Shaw’s dedication was shown by his willingness to give us every conceivable aid we required. After our vehicle had been towed, and seeing that we are from New York (don’t worry, we’re not Yankee fans), he promised that he would not leave us stranded.

After my wife was taken to the hospital and I remained at the scene, he drove me to the hospital and told me to call him when she was discharged and he would get us safely to our hotel in Sunapee. He even provided me with his personal cell phone number in case he was off duty when she was discharged.

Later that evening, he arrived at the hospital and took us to our hotel where we had planned to attend a wedding the next day. However, instead of attending the wedding, we headed back to Long Island in a rental car.

Even after we arrived home, Officer Shaw showed his concern by making sure we were home safely. Sergeant Joe Mahoney and even the Andover police dispatcher were of great assistance with information about the accident, which I required for my insurance claim. The entire department appears to be a well-organized and efficient entity.

Because of his superlative efforts, if you have awards, commendations, or citations, I believe Officer Dan Shaw should be honored for his meritorious work above and beyond. We can’t begin to thank all of you enough. We’re sending a copy of this letter to the governor.

John and Doris Murmello

Long Island, New York