Flying Ice Strikes NH Bus With Students On I-93

CAMPTON, NH — Flying ice struck a bus carrying students on Interstate 93 in Campton Tuesday night. No one was hurt, according to New Hampshire State Police. The bus was on the southbound side of the highway when a chunk of ice from a vehicle slid off and struck the front windshield of the bus trailing behind.

The state's "Jessica's Law" makes it illegal for citizens to drive snow- or ice-covered vehicles.

"While there were no injuries, this is another reminder of the importance of following (Jessica's Law)," police said in a statement. Police shared photos of the damage, shown above and below.

The law was named after Jessica Smith, a 20-year-old Nashua woman who was killed in 1999 in Peterborough when a chunk of ice flew off a truck and struck a trailing vehicle, leading to a crash involving Smith's car.

Penalties for violating the law start at $250 to $500 for a first offense. The penalties increase to $500 up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses — including license suspension. Massachusetts has a similar law on the books.

On Monday, police told WCVB a chunk of ice flew off one vehicle in Weston, Massachusetts, and crashed through the windshield of a trailing vehicle, causing minor injuries to two occupants.

In 2011, a woman was seriously injured in New Hampshire in Mason after flying ice from another vehicle struck her vehicle.

Photo credit: New Hampshire State Police