An Ashland man was killed Monday morning when his SUV collided with a box truck on Interstate 93 north in Ashland, then veered into the median and struck a rock. Bystanders and first responders rushed to help, and an off-duty Concord firefighter began CPR on the driver at the scene while state troopers shut down part of the highway so crews could clear the wreck.
New Hampshire State Police told NBC Boston they were called just after 7 a.m. and found a Chevrolet Traverse in the median and a box truck in the breakdown lane. Troopers said the Traverse drove onto the left-lane rumble strips, the driver overcorrected, and the SUV struck the box truck before leaving the roadway. The crash remains under investigation.
State safety push after rising roadway deaths
The crash comes as New Hampshire officials have urged stepped-up enforcement on speeding and distracted driving after traffic fatalities in the state climbed in recent years. The Governor’s Highway Safety Task Force has issued recommendations to tackle speeding and wrong-way driving, and lawmakers are weighing higher fines for handheld phone use, according to reporting by New Hampshire Public Radio.
At the scene
Other drivers stopped to render aid, and troopers said the SUV driver was rushed to Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth, where he was later pronounced dead, authorities told NBC Boston. Police identified the deceased as 64-year-old Terrence McSalley of Ashland. The left lane of I-93 north was shut down for about two hours while crews cleared the scene.
New Hampshire State Police said they are continuing the investigation and have not released additional details. We will update this story if officials publish more information.
