MERRIMACK, NH - The F.E. Everett Turnpike was shut down both northbound and southbound Monday afternoon due to a series of events.
Initial information is that a tractor trailer traveling northbound in a construction site area under the Baboosic Lake Rd overpass caught several communication lines and ripped them down. The driver, most likely unaware of the incident continued northbound.
The communication lines and some power lines fell onto the highway, closing the highway and causing multiple brush fires. Two vehicles that struck the lines were damaged. At least one person in one of the vehicles was transported to a local hospital.
With gridlock on the turnpike crews were slowed significantly getting to the scene, and the brush fire spread quickly.
An AMR ambulance responding to mutual aid from Nashua had to travel north in the southbound lane to reach the patient who was injured.
NHSP shutdown northbound and southbound. Several vehicles who were caught in traffic made U-turns traveling in the wrong direction on the highway.
At 2:05 the lines were removed from the road and the highway was reopened.
It appears that possibly due to recent paving that the elevation of this highway was raised, and the standard clearance was reduced for vehicles traveling.
NHSP is investigating. Several mutual aid departments responded to Merrimack for station coverage. Baboosic Lake Rd was closed during the incident but has be reopened.
During the incident and for an extended period Daniel Webster Highway was bumper to bumper traffic as people used it as an alternative route.
