Nashua Man Dies In Fiery Crash At Bedford Southbound Toll Plaza

BEDFORD, NH — One person has died in a fiery crash at the F.E. Everett Turnpike southbound toll plaza in Bedford Thursday afternoon.

Bedford Fire and New Hampshire State Police responded to a report of a vehicle that struck the toll plaza and was on fire. Firefighters arrived and found a person who had been pulled from the vehicle, and CPR was being performed on them. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire while other crews continued life-saving measures on the person.

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Mutual aid was requested from Merrimack Fire to respond to assist in extinguishing the vehicle fire. Despite life-saving measures performed, the person was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The initial investigation determined that the vehicle involved, a Mercedes SL 500, was traveling south when it struck a concrete barrier at the toll plaza and subsequently caught fire. The driver, later identified as Scott Defreitas, 52, of Nashua, was pulled from the vehicle by several witnesses. Life-saving measures were attempted, but Defreitas was pronounced deceased on the scene.

State police, Merrimack police, Bedford police, and NH DOT assisted at the scene. Traffic was pushed to the right two lanes of the turnpike while crews worked in the left lanes. Southbound traffic experienced significant delays while the scene was being processed.

No personnel in the toll plaza were injured in the incident.

Additional information will be added as it becomes available.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news