Man Charged with Negligent Homicide, DWI, Heroin Possession After Salem Crash

SALEM, NH — The Salem Police Department has filed numerous charges against a Hampstead man after an accident on Route 111 yesterday that led to the death of an elderly woman from Atkinson, according to police. Todd Gurley, 45, has been charged with negligent homicide, aggravated DWI causing serious injury, DWI, driving after suspension, possession of a controlled drug-heroin, transporting drugs in a motor vehicle, falsifying physical evidence, and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Salem Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

According to police, officers were sent to Route 111 and Ermer Road on Nov. 1, 2016, for a multi-vehicle accident, the led to the road being closed for a number of hours. During the course of the investigation, police learned that Gurley, while driving a 2010 Honda Accord, reportedly failed to stop while pulling into traffic and struck one car which led to the collision of that vehicle with another, according to Capt. Joel Dolan of the Salem Police Department.

“Preliminary evidence indicates his operation of that vehicle ultimately resulted in the death of an innocent 69 year-old Atkinson resident,” Dolan alleged.

Gurley was treated at the scene but later, transported to Parkland Medical Center as “part of the accident investigation,” Dolan noted. After conferring with the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office about the case, he was arrested and charged. Gurley was held without bail and will be arraigned this morning.

Route 111 was closed for several hours as a result of this accident while the Salem Police Department Technical Accident Reconstruction Team conducted its investigation. Dolan noted that the team was still in the process of completing its investigation.

“This is a very busy intersection, particularly at the time this tragic accident occurred, we are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to call the Salem Police Department at 603-893-1911,” he requested.

The identity of the fatal crash victim – nor any other injured party – are being released at this time, according to police.

Previous arrests

Gurley, according to a post on Salem NH Patch from January 2013, was arrested on drug dealing, possession, and conspiracy charges by Hudson Police warrant as part of an alleged nursing home prescription drug racket allegedly involving two other people. He was indicted Hillsborough County Superior Court-South in 2014, according to a post on Nashua NH Patch.