Three People Killed In Head-On Crash On Route 101 In Candia

CANDIA, NH — New Hampshire State Police, Candia, Auburn, and Raymond fire responded to a report of a head-on crash on Route 101 at Mile Marker 69 near the Depot Road overpass Saturday.

While en route to the scene at 12:20 p.m., multiple patients were reported, and a Boston MedFlight helicopter was requested. Due to the helicopter and a large amount of apparatus, firefighters asked for the highway to be closed in both directions.

Once an assessment of the victims was complete, the helicopter was canceled. Route 101 traffic backed up for miles in both directions.

Troopers determined that the driver of a 2010 Toyota Tundra was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed before side-swiping a 2018 Nissan Sentra, striking a guardrail on the eastbound side, veering across the center median and into the westbound lanes of travel, then striking a 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer head-on.

The drivers of the Toyota Tundra and Jeep Grand Wagoneer died from injuries sustained in the crash. A passenger was transported to Elliot Hospital and succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

The driver and passenger of the Nissan Sentra, identified as Timothy McMahon, 57, and Kelly McMahon, 18, both of Peterborough, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Elliot Hospital as a precaution.

The names of the deceased are not being released at this time, pending notification of next of kin, according to state police.

The westbound and eastbound lanes of Route 101 were closed until westbound traffic could be rerouted, then the eastbound lanes were reopened. The westbound lanes were shut down for approximately four hours while Troopers investigated the scene.

After 101 East was opened, a rear-end collision occurred near exit 3 in Candia, causing one vehicle to roll over. The highway was again shut down eastbound for that incident.

State police were assisted at the scene by members of the Raymond Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Candia Fire Rescue, Raymond Fire Department, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

While speed appears to be a factor in the crash, all aspects remain under investigation. Troopers have spoken with multiple witnesses. However, anyone who witnessed the crash and hasn’t spoken with police was asked to contact Trooper Will Bohnenberger at William.F.Bohnenberger@dos.nh.gov or 603-223-4381.