QUECHEE — A New Hampshire woman who was running naked in the middle of Route 4 traffic and attempting to enter some cars on Wednesday was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for mental health care, according to Hartford police.
Police Chief Phil Kasten said police “found a woman in an agitated crisis state” after responding to a 911 call along the commercial strip east of the Quechee Gorge around midday.
He said a passer-by had tried to assist her, but she was “erratic” and also had been “confrontational” with others and attempting to get into cars.
“Police officers were able to take a blanket and cover and protect her until paramedics were able to arrive to assist,” said Kasten, who said she was taken by ambulance to DHMC.
The woman, who is in her 50s, lives in New Hampshire but also has ties to the Vermont side of the Upper Valley, he said.
“Based on a conversation officers had with family, she does have long-standing mental health issues,” Kasten said. No charges are anticipated.
Although it is unclear what prompted the incident on Wednesday, Kasten said police are responding to more calls related to mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is a lot of uncertainty in society right now, and that’s created a lot of stress,” he said. For those who are already struggling, he said, taking away routines “that people depend on for stability can push them into crisis more frequently.”