One woman is dead after the pickup truck she was a passenger in apparently crossed a median on the F.E. Everett Turnpike, and crashed into multiple vehicles in Merrimack, New Hampshire, leading to a road closure that lasted several hours Sunday afternoon.
NH State Police say troopers responded around 12:55 p.m. to a reported crash on the northbound side of the turnpike near Exit 12 and found several vehicles with serious damage and multiple people hurt.
All northbound lanes and the left lane on the southbound side were closed in the area, and drivers were told to avoid the area if possible, or to anticipate delays.
After a preliminary on-scene investigation that included witness statements, police say they believe the driver of a white Dodge Ram pickup was traveling southbound when, for reasons that remain under investigation, the vehicle suddenly crossed the median, entering the northbound lanes of the turnpike where it crashed into two other vehicles -- a brown GMC Sierra pickup and a white Nissan Versa sedan.
The Dodge driver, identified as 69-year-old James Navarro, of Brimfield, Massachusetts, was taken by ambulance to be evaluated for minor injuries, police said.
Navarro's passenger, identified as 63-year-old Wanda Navarro, also of Brimfield, was taken to Elliot Hospital where she died from her injuries, police said.
Additionally, police said a passenger in the GMC Sierra suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital but is expected to survive.
Local
During the investigation of the crash and cleanup of the scene, all northbound lanes and the left lane on the southbound side were closed for about three hours. State police said all lanes had reopened just before 5 p.m.
Police haven't said what caused James Navarro to cross over into oncoming traffic. All aspects of the crash remain under investigation.
No charges have been filed at this time, police said.
Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to contact Trooper Abigail Wells at 603-223-4381 or Abigail.A.Wells@dos.nh.gov.
