Driver Accused Of Killing Woman In Crash Didn't Have A Valid License

MANCHESTER, NH — A driver of an SUV that struck a pick-up truck Thursday and left one person dead and several injured is accused of negligent homicide and driving under the influence.

Manchester Police, fire, and AMR ambulance responded to Massabesic Street between Valley and Jewett Streets for a two-vehicle accident.

Responders arrived and found multiple people entrapped and seriously injured. The crash was between a 2009 light blue Mercury Mariner and a 2020 black GMC Sierra, which were involved in a head-on collision, according to police. The driver of the GMC was identified as a 37-year-old man from Merrimack who sustained severe injuries as a result of this crash. The passenger of the GMC was also a 37-year-old man from Merrimack who sustained minor injuries as a result.

The driver of the Mercury Mariner was identified as Kevin Hicks, 53, of Manchester who was arrested by the police and charged with negligent homicide in addition to driving under the influence. Hicks sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash.

Hicks was scheduled for arraignment on Friday. However, his lawyer asked for a delay based on the accident just occurring, and there was not enough time to gather meaningful information from his client. Court paperwork indicates Hicks is accused of aggravated driving while intoxicated, which resulted in serious injuries, negligent homicide, and driving without a valid New Hampshire license.

Court records indicate he has a Massachusetts driver's license, which is currently suspended.

Police said Hicks was unstable walking and they could smell alcohol on his breath, he said he was diabetic and was evaluated at the scene by medics.

Hicks is being held on preventative detention at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections until he is arraigned.

A passenger of the Mercury who died as a result of injuries from the accident has been identified as Catherine Gagne of Manchester.

Other passengers in the vehicle were a 54-year-old man from Manchester and a 51-year-old man from Hooksett who both sustained serious injuries as a result.

This is the second fatal accident in Manchester in less than 24 hours and the third fatal this month.

Wednesday night, a Merrimack man was killed when the motorcycle collided with a car driven by a Chester teenager at Willow and Union Streets.

Earlier this month, two people from Dunbarton were killed when a vehicle did a u-turn, striking the motorcycle on Elm Street.

The cause of this crash is under investigation by the Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit. Anyone who may have witnessed or have information regarding this crash is requested to contact the Manchester Police Department at 603-668-8711.

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