Manchester Man Dies After SUV Veers Off Interstate 293 Into The Merrimack River: Follow-Up

MANCHESTER, NH — A vehicle veered off Interstate 293 North in Manchester in the area of Queen City Avenue on Friday morning.

Manchester Fire, AMR ambulance, and New Hampshire State Police received a call from a witness who said they witnessed an SUV shortly before 6 a.m. veer off the right side of I-293, traveling through the woodline and into the Merrimack River. Firefighters launched boats into the river while other firefighters searched the river's embankments, eventually locating the Hyundai Tucson that had overturned and was now upside down in the water.

Firefighters initially made entry but were unable to locate a victim. After debris was moved, the airbags were cut, and a firefighter entered the vehicle, they located a person inside the vehicle. The person was removed from the vehicle and transferred to the Manchester Fire boat, which transported the person to the boat launch while CPR was being performed.

State police said Friday afternoon that Juan Alonzo Perez Ramirez, 32, of Manchester, died due to injuries sustained in the crash.

Additional searches were done in the vehicle and the river, and no one else was located.

New Hampshire State Police and New Hampshire Department of Transportation remain at the scene; all lanes of travel are open.

A heavy-duty wrecker will be used to remove the vehicle, and state police are continuing their investigation.

The crash remains under investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Alex Peplinski at 603-227-0076 or Alex.M.Peplinski@dos.nh.gov.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news