Man Dies After Jumping From Overpass Onto Traffic In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NH — A city man died Monday after jumping off the Interstate 293 overpass onto oncoming traffic, according to the New Hampshire State Police. Richard Newton, 40, of Manchester, was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by two vehicles, police say. Traffic was diverted from the area for about two hours Monday morning as emergency officials worked on scene.

State and Manchester police responded to the incident around 10 a.m. On scene, they learned that Newton had climbed over the chain link fence on the South Willow Street overpass to I-293 and jumped down, onto southbound traffic. State Police say that Newton was struck by two vehicles driving on the interstate at the time — a red Ford Eco Sport driven by a 49-year-old Derry woman and a white F-250 pickup truck driven by a 38-year-old man from Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

The New Hampshire Medical Examiner's Office pronounced Newton dead on scene. The two drivers were not injured, according to police. While emergency officials worked on scene, traffic on I-293 South was being diverted off Exit 1 across South Willow Street and back onto I-293 South for about two hours.

Anyone with further information about this incident is asked to contact State Police Trooper Travis Merritt.

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