Several Injured During Everett Turnpike In Nashua Crash; Woman Accused Of Wrong-Way DUI

NASHUA, NH — Nashua fire and police, New Hampshire State Police, and AMR ambulance responded to a report of a multi-vehicle accident on the F.E. Everett turnpike near Exit 7W reportedly involving a wrong-way driver on Saturday.

State police received calls just before the accident that a vehicle was driving north in the southbound lane. Troopers said the wrong-way driver was operating a Subaru Impreza, which caught fire upon impact, and the vehicle driver was entrapped.

State police identified the driver as Jennifer Pratka, 29, of Litchfield. She was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua for minor injuries.

A preliminary investigation found the Subaru Impreza was driving north on the F.E. Everett Turnpike in the southbound lanes when it collided with a pickup truck in the left lane. Immediately after, three other vehicles crashed into these two vehicles. The driver and the passenger of the pickup truck sustained serious injuries while the occupants of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries.

A total of three AMR ambulances were required at the scene and five patients were treated. Two trauma patients were transported to Southern NH Medical Center while three other patients were transported to St Joseph’s Hospital according to Nashua Fire.

The F.E. Everett Turnpike southbound lanes were shut down between Exits 7W and 7E for approximately three and half hours while the crash was being investigated, the vehicles were removed, and debris was cleaned from the roadway. New Hampshire State Police were assisted on the scene by the Nashua Police Department, Nashua Fire, and EMS, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

Pratka is scheduled to appear in Hillsborough Superior Court in July to face aggravated driving under the influence and reckless conduct charges. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trooper Harkonen at Ryan.R.Harknoen@dos.nh.gov or 603-223-8308.