A New Hampshire state trooper assigned to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s security detail pulled a driver from a burning electric car after it slammed into the Bedford Toll Plaza on the Everett Turnpike just before noon on Tuesday. The vehicle burst into flames, and bystanders, including the governor, helped the trooper move the injured driver away from the wreckage before firefighters arrived. Emergency crews then rushed the driver to a nearby hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Trooper, Ayotte and Bystanders Race Toward the Flames
New Hampshire State Police said a trooper on Ayotte’s security detail helped remove the lone occupant from the mangled vehicle while the governor and other witnesses assisted at the scene, according to CBS News Boston. The department later posted about the rescue on its X account and credited everyone on scene with acting quickly to get the driver away from the burning car. Because of the sensitive nature of the assignment, police said they will not release the trooper’s name.
Lucid EV Erupts in Fire, Driver Seriously Hurt
Local coverage identified the vehicle as a 2026 Lucid electric car that caught fire after striking the toll plaza. WCVB reported the driver as 51-year-old Yevgeny Mirman of Massachusetts and said he was taken to Elliot Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Officials noted that the electric vehicle fire was more difficult to knock down than a typical gasoline-fueled blaze, and firefighters used tarps and suppression foam to secure the scene. Investigators stayed at the plaza to document the crash and inspect structural damage.
Northbound Traffic Diverted as Crews Lock Down Scene
The northbound lanes at the Bedford tolls were shut after the impact, and troopers diverted traffic off at Exit 13 while emergency and cleanup crews worked the scene, according to local reporting by WHDH. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation began assessing structural and roadway damage at the tolls as the state police investigation got underway. Commuters were warned to expect delays and to seek alternate routes until the area could be safely reopened.
Crash-Prone Bedford Tolls Already Set for Overhaul
The Bedford toll plaza has seen several serious crashes in recent years, including a June 2024 wreck that killed a Nashua man, as reported by WMUR. State officials have already approved a conversion to all-electronic tolling in an effort to cut down on these collisions. WCVB reported that the replacement project is expected to cost about $16 million and be completed in the fall of 2027. Local safety officials have pointed to narrow lanes and varying vehicle speeds at the booths as recurring contributors to crashes.
State Police Colonel Calls Rescue ‘Heroic’
Col. Mark Hall praised everyone who jumped in to help on Tuesday, describing their response as “heroic” and stressing that the crash remains under active investigation, according to WHDH. The governor’s office had not immediately responded to requests for comment. Authorities asked anyone with information or video of the crash to contact New Hampshire State Police. Troopers and transportation crews will continue inspecting the toll plaza and making any needed repairs before fully reopening the affected lanes.
