Police: FedEx Van Had Mechanical Problem before Crash

The driver of a Federal Express van that crashed through the fence of a Middle Street home experienced a mechanical problem that caused her to lose control of the vehicle on Monday, according to Portsmouth Police.

Portsmouth Police Officer Christina Meyer said she interviewed the Federal Express driver at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and learned that just before the van veered left and went across Middle Street, something happened to one of the front tires.

Meyer said on Wednesday that the driver was not sure if a tire had blown or if one of the vehicle's tie rods might have snapped, but something occurred near the front of the vehicle that caused her to lose control.

Police say the FedEx driver, who is recovering from the injuries she suffered, struck a pickup truck on Monday morning that was headed north on Middle Street before the van crashed through a fence located in front of a home at 699 Middle St. and struck another car that was parked in the driveway.