A tragic collision on a New Hampshire road claimed the life of a woman and left two men with serious injuries on Sunday morning, according to state police reports. The incident, involving a fire department vehicle from Errol, New Hampshire, and a pickup truck, occurred on Route 16 in Pinkham’s Grant, near the White Mountain National Forest.
The victim, identified as 54-year-old Linda Gauthier from Gorham, was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been a passenger in a southbound 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, which collided head-on with the northbound 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD fire vehicle, MassLive reported.
Linda's husband, 60-year-old Richard Gauthier, sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed by ambulance to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin. He was later transferred to Dartmouth Medical Center for further treatment, according to Boston 25 News.
The fire vehicle's driver, Bradley Eldridge, 63, of Errol, was also injured in the accident, sustaining suspected serious injuries. Eldridge was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in Conway, driving the fire truck northbound on Route 16 when the crash occurred. He was in the line of duty at the time of the collision, as detailed by state police.
Responding at approximately 11:37 a.m. to the crash report, troopers found devastating scenes with local fire, EMS, and the Jackson and Gorham Police Departments assisting on the scene, "state police said. The crash currently remains under thorough investigation, and those with pertinent information are urged to reach out to Trooper First Class Daniel Quartulli," according to contact details provided by the state police.
As the small township of Pinkham’s Grant grapples with the grim aftermath, authorities continue to piece together the circumstances that led to this tragic event. The community, deeply intertwined with the everyday heroes of the fire department, mourns the loss of one of their own and peers into an uncertain future marked by this harrowing road tragedy.
