Alleged Drunk Driving Accident Shuts Baboosic Lake Road Overnight

Merrimack Police expect Baboosic Lake Road at the intersection of Daniel Webster to remain closed into the early morning hours after an alleged drunk driver smashed into a telephone pole shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday night.

The Merrimack Public Library will be closed on Wednesday as a result of the accident.

Police arrested William McGregor, 26, of 175 Indian Rock Road, operating under the influence of liquor, a second offense, and conduct after an accident.

Merrimack Police Capt. Peter Albert said Tuesday night that witnesses gave a description of McGregor's truck, a Chevy Silverado, and the license plate number, stating the truck had left the scene.

Police located McGregor , and his still-smoking truck, at his home about a mile down the road where Albert said officers noticed signs of impairment and “conducted field sobriety tests that he failed.”

Police were called to the accident at 8:53 p.m. and found a downed power pole and wires in the road.

Albert said the pole was a support pole with wires running into underground duct work at the intersection and caused a power outage to businesses in the area including the Merrimack Public Library. A press release sent out just after 11:30 p.m. said the Mobil on the Run also lost power to its pumps and had to close early.

“The truck struck the pole with such force that it actually yanked some of the duct work up out of the ground,” Albert said.

This caused damage inside the library to fuse boxes, Albert said, and may have also caused damage to computers, lighting and the heating system inside the building. The library will be closed Wednesday for a full electrical inspection

There was no fire inside the library, though there was some light smoke and and odor in the building, Albert said.

PSNH is working through the night to replace the pole and repair the wires. Albert said D.W. Highway is fully open and traffic is being rerouted onto Baboosic Lake Road using Church Street, Hillside Terrace and Woodbury Street, so people can access it from all directions. It is expected that Baboosic Lake Road will be fully re-opened by 6 a.m., Albert said. Traffic could be opened to one lane before then, Albert said.

As of this printing, McGregor had not yet been released on bail. Albert said he'd likely be released on personal recognizance bail in a to-be-determined amount. He is scheduled for arraignment in Merrimack district court on Jan. 8.