Dump Truck Rollover Causes Major Delays

UPDATE, 12:30 p.m.: State police said no one was seriously injured in a multiple-vehicle crash on Route 101 in Epping on Thursday morning.

According to a state police press release, preliminary investigation revealed that there was a previous motor vehicle collision just east of the accident.  A 2013 Ford E-250 van, driven by Brett Piar, 34, of Manchester swerved into the right breakdown lane to avoid a secondary collision as traffic slowed. His vehicle became stuck in the snow on the right side of the roadway.

A short time later, a 2006 STRG LT9500 dump truck, driven by Lawrence Jache, 78, of Manchester also swerved to the right to avoid a collision with the slowing traffic. The dump truck then struck the van that was disabled in the right breakdown lane. The dump truck subsequently began to roll over, striking a 1999 Saab 9-3 driven by Leslie Jolland, 34, of Hooksett as it rolled. The dump truck then came to a final rest on its right side in the center median. The dump truck overturning resulted in a load of sand being spilled across all travel lanes.

Piar and Jache were transported to the Exeter Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

The left travel lane on Route 101 eastwas closed for 2 hours and 10 minutes due to the collision. Additionally, all travel lanes were closed intermittently for several minutes at a time to allow for vehicle removal and roadway cleanup.

Assisting the New Hampshire State Police at the scene were the Epping Police Department, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department, the Epping Fire Department, the Brentwood Fire Department, the New Hampshire State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the New Hampshire State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

The accident remains under investigation by Trooper Thomas Conlon. Anyone with information pertaining to the crash is asked to contact him at 603-223-8490.

An earlier story follows:

A dump truck rollover on Route 101 east in Epping on Thursday morning was causing major delays for motorists.

The accident was reported around 7:45 a.m., according to emergency radio broadcasts. Three vehicles were reportedly involved, and no one was seriously injured. All eastbound lanes were temporarily blocked. 

Mutual aid was called in from Brentwood and Exeter ALS.

Exeter Patch reader Karen Clark Rafferty advises motorists to avoid 101, as traffic is backed up for miles.

"We are sitting at the on ramp at Exit 5 and traffic has not moved an inch in the 15 minutes we've been sitting here," she said.