Two die in head-on collision

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:50:00 GMT

BY JENN MCDOWELL

Two Concord residents died in a head-on collision with a car containing two Allenstown residents on Route 28, according to police.

According to Allenstown Police Chief Shaun Mulholland, the two Concord residents were traveling south in a Kia Spectra when they crossed the center line and collided head on with a Plymouth Neon in the northbound lane at 9:39 p.m. on Friday, April 19.

The Judith Wright, 44, of 15 Academy St., Concord, in the Kia died at the scene. The driver of that vehicle, Russell Wright, 50, also of 15 Academy St., Concord, was flown to Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center.

Police were still working the accident scene when the call came that he had succumbed to his injuries, Mulholland said.

The two occupants of the Neon survived, although the driver, 46, was still in the hospital at press time with head and leg injuries and was in and out of consciousness, Mulholland said.

The Neon’s passenger, whom Mulholland described as a juvenile, suffered the least extensive injuries, including some small bone breaks in her legs, even though her side of the car took the brunt of the impact.

That’s because she was the only one out of the four people wearing a seatbelt, Mulholland said.

“I think it would be a far different outcome if they were wearing seatbelts. Normally, we can’t say that with certainty, but in this case we can,” Mulholland said.

An officer, whom Mulholland said would remain unnamed, witnessed the accident just south of the Suncook Business Park on Route 28 when he went there to remove a radar trailer from the area.

At the section of Route 28 where the crash occurred, the speed limit changes from 50 mph to 35 mph.

Mulholland said speed was not a factor in the collision, as indicated by the radar trailer’s readings on the vehicles, but police are investigating whether alcohol or drugs were involved in any way.

“That’s being investigated very closely right now,” Mulholland said, adding investigators were waiting for the opportunity to speak with the Neon’s driver.

An accident reconstruction team was heading out to the accidents site, just north of the intersection of River Road and Route 28, on Monday, April 21, to try to recreate the collision and determine a cause.

Mulholland said it is unlikely that charges would be filed in the case.

“The only person who could be charged is now dead,” he said.

Mulholland said Allenstown has not had a fatal accident on Route 28, which heads into Pembroke and then into Epsom, since 2004.

Before 2004, the town averaged two fatal car accidents per year on that stretch of road in town, Mulholland said.

“The reason why they’re so bad is because the speed limit is 50. You’ve got a closing speed of a 100 mph,” Mulholland said, referring to the total impact speed of two cars crashing together. “You’re going to have injuries with that.”

Mulholland said Route 28 was closed down for about four hours while Allenstown, Pembroke and Epsom police and firefighters cleared the accident scene.

Boy on bike collides with car

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:21:00 GMT

BY JENNIFER MCDOWELL

Police responded to a call regarding a collision between a vehicle and and a 10-year-old boy at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Catamount Hills Drive at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23.

Lt. Paul Paquette of the Allenstown Police Department said the boy suffered multiple injuries, but could not comment on the nature of those injuries or the current condition of the boy, who was transported by ambulance to Dartmouth Medical Center.

According to WMUR-TV news, the boy suffered several injuries to his head and legs and a broken collarbone. According to reports, he was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.

The news station also reported the boy was racing on his bike with friends when he entered the intersection and collided with the vehicle. The driver, according to reports, did not have time to react.

Police have not filed charges against the vehicle’s driver, and all reports indicate that none will be filed in the future.

Paquette said the names of the boy and the vehicle operator will not be released until the investigation is complete, and that he could not comment on the investigation’s progress.

Allenstown News : accident

Two die in head-on collision

Boy on bike collides with car