MANCHESTER, N.H. – A box truck fell into the Merrimack River, and a minor passenger was seriously injured in a series of crashes on Interstate 293 in Manchester.
At 7:38 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, State Troopers assigned to the Troop B barracks responded to a report of a crash involving serious injuries and a box truck that broke through the guardrail on the bridge and fell into the Merrimack River on I-293 northbound in Manchester.
The preliminary investigation determined that up to six vehicles were involved in a series of at least two chain crashes. The most severe of which resulted in serious injuries to a minor passenger. As part of the chain of events, Dylan Pagan Rodriguez, 26, of Fall River, Massachusetts, was driving a box truck over the bridge when he lost control, broke through the guardrail, and plunged approximately 50 feet into the river. Rodriguez was not injured.
I-293 was down to one lane for multiple hours as responding crews cleared the scene and got the truck out of the water.
Troopers were assisted by Marine Patrol Officers, as well as members of the Bedford police and fire departments, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation. Anyone who witnessed, or took photos or videos of the crash, is asked to contact Trooper Matthew Howe via Matthew.S.Howe@dos.nh.gov or (603) 451-9588.
