A tragic event unfolded on a New Hampshire roadway as 19-year-old John Burke from Hudson now faces charges including second-degree murder, after police say he deliberately struck a motorcyclist with his vehicle on Route 102 in Litchfield, an act which ultimately led to the rider's death, as reported by NBC Boston. The collision occurred last night and involved a sequence of events where Burke's Toyota Corolla first made contact with the motorcycle before subsequently crashing into a Mitsubishi Outlander in what authorities believe was an incident of road rage.
After responding to the crash around 9:17 p.m., Litchfield police, alongside New Hampshire State Police, concluded the collision between the Toyota and motorcycle was intentional, this determination was based on witness statements and physical evidence, as the motorcycle was found in a nearby woodline with the motorcyclist, who was later pronounced dead at the scene, laying unresponsive on the road shoulder. Details from WMUR indicate that Burke is additionally charged with manslaughter, negligent homicide, and other related offenses, and was treated for minor injuries following the incident before an arraignment was set.
The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed, pending family notification, and an autopsy is scheduled to further investigate the cause of death. The driver of the Mitsubishi involved in the crash after the initial hit was treated onsite for minor injuries and released, marking the collateral damage of this deadly occurrence.
Litchfield Police Chief Daniel Jones, in discussing the gravity of such incidents where vehicles are used as weapons, was quoted by WMUR, stating, "It's a, 3,500-pound weapon," closely capturing the lethal potential of motor vehicles when misused in road-rage clashes, meanwhile, Burke remains held until a probable cause hearing which is scheduled for Tuesday, due to the judge's concern for public safety should he be released. The authorities have encouraged anyone with information about the crash to contact the Litchfield police or the New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit to assist with the ongoing investigation.
