A 68-year-old passenger died and both drivers were left in critical condition after a Chevrolet Equinox crossed the centerline on Route 137 in Dublin, New Hampshire, and slammed head-on into an oncoming Mazda 3 Tuesday evening. The crash near Goldmine Road shut down the rural highway for roughly two and a half hours as crews worked to free people trapped inside the wreckage.
According to NBC Boston, the crash happened around 5:22 p.m. Tuesday when the southbound Equinox crossed into the path of the northbound Mazda. The Dublin Police Department has identified 62-year-old James Picotte of Dublin as the Equinox's driver and 42-year-old Timothy Wilder of Jaffrey as the driver of the Mazda, according to reporting by MyKeeneNow. Timothy Sirois, 68, of Dublin, was riding as a passenger in Picotte's Equinox and died of injuries sustained in the crash, per the same report.
Two people were transported by UMass LifeFlight, and firefighters from neighboring Harrisville established landing zones for the medical transport, the outlet's report notes. UMass Memorial operates the region's only Level 1 trauma center, giving it a role as the primary emergency air ambulance destination for patients across central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, according to an Aviation Week report.
Bystanders Stepped In Before Crews Arrived
Initial emergency calls described three injured victims, including at least one person pinned inside a vehicle, which triggered immediate mutual-aid requests for extrication equipment and air medical transport, according to dispatch logs relayed by Infonh. The Dublin Police Department publicly commended bystanders and witnesses who stepped in to help crash victims before first responders arrived on scene, the outlet reported.
The response drew emergency crews from Dublin, Jaffrey, Peterborough, Marlborough, and Harrisville, reflecting how quickly a single crash on a rural two-lane road can strain the resources of several small-town departments at once. Route 137 was closed for about two and a half hours while police investigated and emergency personnel worked the scene, per NBC Boston's reporting.
What Caused the Equinox to Cross the Line Remains Unclear
Dublin police say the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, and it is not yet known why Picotte's Equinox crossed into the oncoming lane. Investigators have not said whether speed, distraction, a medical event, or a mechanical failure played a role.
Dublin police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call the department at 603-355-2000 and ask for Master Patrolman Brandon Blair, per NBC Boston.
A Familiar Danger on Rural New Hampshire Roads
New Hampshire recorded 137 traffic fatalities in 2025, and rural areas accounted for 58 percent of fatalities and serious injuries statewide between 2019 and 2023, according to the Stephen Law Group.
Dublin police have not indicated a cause beyond confirming that the investigation continues.
