Accidents, Vehicles Off Road Keep Police Busy During Storm

Merrimack Police Lt. Matthew Tarleton said its been a busy day for police around Southern New Hampshire during the latest snowfall that began early this morning.

Numerous calls to accidents and vehicles off the road have kept Merrimack Police busy and New Hampshire State Police outright slammed, Tarleton said.

“This morning was off the wall,” Tarleton said, referring to the number of accidents to be handled by State Police.

Among the morning fender benders was an accident in which a car slid into a school bus at the intersection of Seaverns Bridge and Bates roads.

“Fortunately no one in the bus, or the operator of the car, was hurt,” Tarleton said.

When he was headed to work Tarleton observed from the Baboosic Lake Road overpass a car off the road on the northbound side of the turnpike and police assisting at an accident on the southbound.

“It seemed like a sea of blue lights out there for a period of time,” Tarleton said.

In town, police responded mostly to fender benders throughout the first part of today, and vehicles that had simply slid off the road but needed assistance in getting back to traveling.

Merrimack Police also assisted State Police in locating a car that was reported as having rolled over on the Turnpike just before Exit 10.

Tarleton said the car was located off the highway on Industrial Drive – the driver out of the vehicle flagging down a passing police officer – though a caller had reported it may have rolled down the embankment in the area of Camper's Inn.

The car had side panel damage, and Tarleton said he didn't know the full specifics, but as he understood it, it was the car reported as having rolled over.

Other than accidents, Tarleton said the storm has not brought any other complications to this point.

“Fortunately, knock on wood , we haven't had any trees down, wires down or arcing wires,” he said.

While the snow has slowed at this hour, snow and rain are expected to continue falling through the early evening, which could create additional problems during the evening commute.

Police are urging motorists to drive with caution, leave plenty of space between vehicles and give yourself enough time to get where you are going.

Athletic practices and games have been canceled for Merrimack High School this afternoon, but middle school activities are still on.

Tareleton said the roads seem to be better now that salt and sand have been able to take effect.

“In the morning, yeah the plows have the blade down on the ground and they are treating, but you still have those slippery conditions,” Tarleton said. “By now the treatment has had some time to set in and get down to the pavement where you have some traction.”