Icy Roads Cause Crash on I-89

On November 12, at approximately 8 a.m. The New Hampshire State Police were on the scene of a tractor trailer accident on Interstate 89 in Grantham at mile marker 46.4. This accident had occurred at approximately 5:08 a.m.. The tractor trailer had been traveling northbound when it lost control, jackknifed and slid down the median enbankment. The southbound left lane was closed while multiple heavy duty wreckers from Cory Patten’s Auto & Truck Works worked to remove the tractor trailer from the median. Additionally, the Grantham Fire Department, Grantham Police Dept., Springfield Police Dept. and members of the New Hampshire Environmental Services were on scene.

At this time Rhiannon Hutchinson, 58  of  Newport, was driving northbound in the left travel lane in a 2003 Ford Focus when traffic ahead of her slowed most likely due to motorist looking at the accident scene. According to Hutchinson she looked at the accident scene, then directed her attention ahead where she suddenly realized that traffic had slowed. Hutchenson abruptly swerved left to avoid colliding with the vehicle in front of her. This resulted in her vehicle losing control and sliding into the grass median where it became airborne, overturning down the steep embankment towards the truck accident scene. The vehicle came to final rest in the median near the southbound I-89 shoulder after rolling multiple times.

Several troopers narrowly escaped being struck by the vehicle. One trooper was credited with saving Corey Patten, 45, the owner of the tow company. Trooper Michael Feineaur instinctively reacted by pushing Patten out of the way as the vehicle careened towards them. The vehicle did make contact with Patten propelling him onto the southbound left shoulder of the highway. Patten sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to New London Hospital.

Rhiannon was extracated from her vehicle with the assistance of the Grantham Fire Department. She was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with serious injuries.

Any questions relating to this investigation should be directed to Trooper Stanley Dombrowski  of  Troop D.

Authority: Lieutenant Gregory Ferry  11/12/13

Submitted by the New Hampshire State Police