One Killed, Others Injured in Route 202/9 Crash

HENNIKER, NH — A person driving in Toyota RAV4 yesterday evening during a reckless operation complaint that started in Stoddard lost their life when they were ejected from their vehicle after a crash in Henniker, according to the New Hampshire State Police. The identity of the driver was Kevin Morong, 59, of Keene, according to an updated release.

The incident reportedly started before 6 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2016, when a trooper in Stoddard observed a blue SUV “travelling at an excessively high rate of speed,” but quickly lost sight of the vehicle. The trooper contacted Hillsboro Police and an officer there reportedly clocked the RAV4 at more than 100 mph and attempted to conduct a stop. When the SUV reportedly failed to stop, the officer stop pursuing the vehicle and informed Henniker Police, Troop D of the NHSP, and the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Department about the alleged reckless operation of the vehicle.

#Breaking: 1 killed in crash on Rt. 202 in #Henniker pic.twitter.com/V9XzwymTe7 via @MikeCroninWMUR
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) October" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/WMUR9/stat... 10, 2016

Sheriffs, according to Trooper Thomas Conlon of the NHSP, began receiving calls about a crash on Route 202/9 in Henniker, near the junction of Route 114. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found that the RAV4 had crashed along with three other SUVs – a Ford Expedition, a Nissan Xterra, and a Nissan Pathfinder towing a camper, according to state police.

“As a result of the collision, the operator of the Toyota RAV4, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was ejected from the vehicle and determined to be deceased on scene,” according to Conlon.

Two others were injured and transported to Concord Hospital while other drivers and passengers reported no – or minor – injuries and were treated by the Henniker Fire Department.

The NHSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit was called to the scene and determined that speed was a factor with the crash. The team is also investigating whether or not impairment and/or distraction were factors, according to Conlon. Route 202/9 was closed for about seven hours during the investigation and cleanup of the crash scene.

The crash was cleared around 2 a.m., according to NHSP. Along with Henniker Police and Fire and Hillsboro Police, Deering Police and NH DOT assisted at the scene.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact Conlon at 603-223-8614 or thomas.conlon@dos.nh.gov.