MANCHESTER, NH – A Manchester woman has died and five others were transported to local hospitals following a two-vehicle crash Thursday morning in which the driver of one of the cars has been charged with negligent homicide.
According to Manchester Police at 11:09 a.m. on May 30 a 2009 light blue Mercury Mariner and a 2020 black GMC Sierra were involved in a head-on collision at the intersection of Massabesic Street and Tarrytown Road. A passenger in the Mercury, Catherine Gagne of Manchester, died as a result of her injuries.
The driver of the Mercury Mariner, Kevin Hicks, 53, of Manchester, was arrested by Manchester Police and charged with negligent homicide in addition to driving under the influence. Hicks sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash.
The driver of the GMC was identified as a 37-year-old Merrimack man who sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. A passenger of the GMC, also a 37-year-old male from Merrimack, sustained minor injuries.
Other passengers in the Mercury were a 54-year-old male from Manchester and a 51-year-old male from Hooksett, who both sustained serious injuries as a result.
An initial incident report issued by Manchester Fire Battalion Chief Josh Guay also listed the time of dispatch of first-responders as 11:09 a.m. The report was for an accident with possible entrapment. Engine 8 arrived first and confirmed that there were two vehicles involved and a total of six people involved.
A trauma team activation was requested from Elliot Hospital and two additional ambulances were called along with a paramedic unt. Crews used hydraulic tools to free patients from one of the vehicles. Three people were transported to the Elliot and two patients were transported to CMC, said Fire Chief Ryan Cashin, who commended his firefighters for the job they have been doing responding to several serious crashes in the recent weeks.
“I’m proud of our members who responded to this incident today – they did a professional job under tough conditions,” Cashin said. “These calls are never easy – and the members of Manchester Fire Department handled it professionally – and not only this, but other recent calls.”
Manchester fire personnel also assisted with patient care during transport to the hospitals following Thursday’s crash.
On Wednesday night a motorcyclist was killed on Willow Street and two people were killed, also in a motorcycle accident on Willow Street on May 17. Firefighters also responded to a car into a building on Cedar Street earlier this week that caused a gas leak.
Cashin said that while there are no common threads to accidents such as these, it is a good time to remind the public to use caution any time they are driving.
“Just as a matter of general awareness, please use caution while driving. We’ve seen an uptick in accidents lately, so just be aware of your surroundings at all times and always drive defensively,” Cashin said.
While most accidents that happen on city streets are fairly low-impact, Thursday’s accident is a sobering reminder that any accident can be deadly.