Traffic Fatalities on the Rise in NH, Including Two in Salem

Traffic fatalities are up 20 percent so far this year, according to statistics provided by the New Hampshire Department of Safety.

Forty-eight people have been killed in motor vehicle accidents in New Hampshire so far this year, compared to 40 percent at this point last year. Four of those killed were pedestrians.

Seven of those killed were driving motorcycles. That's actually a decrease of about 20 percent over the number of motorcycle fatalities at this point last year.

Overall, there have been 8,605 "reportable" crashes so far this year, down about 26 percent from 11,633 at this time last year. Reportable crashes are those with at least $1,000 in combined property damage or injuries. 

There have been fewer injuries this year as well, with 3,390 reported injuries, compared to 4,583 at this time last year.

Two of this year's fatal accidents have taken place in Salem. 

A teenage driver killed a 44-year-old woman walking on Main Street just after midnight on May 12.

Last month, a 34-year-old driver was speeding and lost control of his vehicle near Exit 1 on Interstate 93.

He was ejected from his Ford F-150 truck and pronounced dead at the scene.