NH Man's Life Changed Forever Due To Flying Ice From Truck: Watch

LONDONDERRY, NH — Londonderry police, and NH State Police held a press conference Friday to discuss the recent arrest of a Derry man after an incident that seriously injured a 22-year-old Londonderry man.

The incident occurred on Dec. 16 when Michael Conry, 22, was operating a Honda Accord on Route 102. Conry’s vehicle was struck by snow and ice that flew off a truck traveling in the opposite direction. The ice smashed the front window of the vehicle causing serious injuries to Conry.

Police said the truck was being operated by Richard Leiter, 60, of Derry. Investigators allege Leiter failed to clear the snow and ice from his vehicle resulting in serious injuries to Conry.

Capt. Patrick Cheetham of the Londonderry Police Department said Conry was taken to Parkland Medical but required extensive medical care at a Boston hospital. He suffered serious facial trauma and had glad in both of his eyes from the smashed windshield. Cheetham said Leiter was not aware of the incident — and a witness chased him down to tell him. Leiter returned to the scene and Cheetham said, he cooperated with investigators.

Leiter was charged with:

1) Vehicular Assault, a Class-A Misdemeanor, pursuant to NH RSA 265:79-a
2) Reckless Conduct, a Class-A Misdemeanor, pursuant to NH RSA 631:3
3) Negligent Driving, a violation, pursuant to NH RSA 265:79-b

At the press conference, the focus of properly removing all snow and ice from vehicles was highlighted by Peterborough Police Chief Scott Guinard. Guinard was one of the officers who originally responded to a 1999 fatal crash that killed Jessica Smith. The incident eventually became one of the factors leading to Jessica’s Law that created penalties for people who fail to properly remove snow and ice from their vehicles.

In the 1999 crash, ice flew off a truck smashing through the window of a tractor-trailer window causing it to hit Jessica’s vehicle head-on, killing her.

Cheetham demonstrated how quickly a vehicle can be cleaned off using a readily available snow-broom with an extended handle.

Cheetham said that after the accident he learned that Michael Conry had been a member of the Londonderry Police Explorer program. Conry, who is graduating from college soon, planned on applying to Londonderry police and other departments to become a police explorer. Part of the requirements for all police departments nationwide is passing a vision test — and this incident could affect his ability to pass that test.

Watch the complete video coverage of the press conference at:

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news