Cruiser Crushed By Truck; Trooper, Woman Trapped After Hooksett Crash

HOOKSETT, NH — A New Hampshire State Police trooper and a woman were injured when a pickup truck slammed into a cruiser in a high-speed collision on Hooksett Road on Wednesday.

A woman driving a silver vehicle was stuck on a snowbank and a trooper was blocking Hooksett Road near Interstate 93 on- and off-ramps in the southbound lane. The trooper was in his cruiser with the driver of the vehicle sitting in the rear seat so the woman could keep warm.

A tow truck operator was in front of the trooper’s cruiser, and the operator was out of his truck hooking up a tow strap to the car's rear. A man operating a pickup truck then slammed into the back of the cruiser, pushing it a significant distance and crushing the back of the cruiser. The cruiser was pushed forward and narrowly missed the tow truck driver who saw the crash happening.

Hooksett police, fire, and EMS responded, and, while en route, were advised a person was trapped in the back of the cruiser, and the trooper was trapped in the front seat. The tow truck operator from Precision towing worked to aid the trooper and the woman.

Firefighters used tools to pry the doors open and extricate the two occupants of the cruiser. Both the trooper and woman were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.

The pickup truck driver appeared not to be injured and did not accept medical treatment. Police administered a standard roadside sobriety test shortly after the man was placed in custody. The man was taken from the scene in a state police cruiser, state police verify Michael Pavletich of Amherst was arrested for suspicion of DWI.

Hooksett Road was closed for several hours, and some of the on- and off-ramps.

The accident is under investigation and additional information is expected to come.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news