Dog Missing After Jumping From Vehicle Involved In Toll Plaza Accident

BEDFORD, NH — New Hampshire State Police and Bedford Fire responded to a report of a two-vehicle head-on crash at the Bedford Toll Plaza Tuesday.

Responders arrived at the scene at 10:15 a.m. and found a pick-up truck that crashed into the barrier of the toll plaza and then struck an SUV that was coming through the Northbound toll.

Two people in the BMW SUV were heavily entrapped and Bedford firefighters immediately began extrication and called for an additional mutual aid ambulance from Merrimack Fire Rescue.

Firefighters extricated two people from the SUV who had severe injuries and transported them to the hospital; details on the injuries are not available at this time. The man driving the pick-up truck was medically evaluated at the scene and did not appear to have any severe injuries from the accident. He was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

The initial investigation has determined that a maroon Ford F-250 pickup truck, driven by Scott Wein, 48, of Loudon, had been traveling southbound just before the Bedford Toll Plaza when the pickup crossed the median and briefly continued southbound in a northbound lane. As the pickup drove in the wrong direction and entered the lane farthest to the left on the northbound side of the turnpike, it struck a white BMW X3 head-on, according to state police.

Wein, along with the driver of the BMW, identified as Peter Kemeny, 68, of Quebec, Canada, and Kemeny’s front-seat passenger, Daphna Vermes, 67, also of Canada, sustained significant injuries. All three were transported to the Elliot Hospital in Manchester.

The structure at the toll plaza had serious damage; no personnel in the toll plaza were injured, and the structure was examined by NH Dot workers.

Granite State Dog Recovery is assisting in locating a dog that jumped out of the pickup truck and ran from the scene. The dog is described as a Pitbull / Mastiff mix.

They ask that people use caution while driving in the area and advise the dog is very shy and likely to run. The dog also does not like other dogs.

If you locate the dog or have information, call Granite State Dog Recovery at 1-855-639-5678.

State police kept most of the lanes of the toll plaza open and closed two lanes in each direction, which caused minor traffic backups.

Members of the state police accident investigation team are at the scene working to document the accident.

This is the second serious accident at the Bedford toll plaza in less than a week. Thursday, a Nashua man died when the Mercedes he was driving crashed into the southbound barrier at the toll plaza.

All aspects of the crash remain under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information that could assist in the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Shane Mason at (603) 223-8517 or Shane.P.Mason@dos.nh.gov.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news