AMHERST, N.H. — A devastating multi-vehicle collision involving an oil tanker truck left two people dead and closed a major stretch of Route 101 for several hours on Friday.
Emergency personnel from Amherst Police, Fire, and EMS rushed to Route 101—just west of the Merrimack Road overpass—following reports of a multi-vehicle crash with a vehicle actively on fire.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders discovered two fatalities: the driver of a commercial oil tank truck and the driver of an Acura sedan. A third driver, operating a small utility-style truck towing a trailer, escaped the crash uninjured.
According to Amherst Police Chief Anthony Ciampoli, preliminary investigations and witness accounts indicate that the Acura was traveling westbound on Route 101 when it suddenly crossed into the eastbound lane, striking the oncoming oil tanker. The initial head-on impact caused the Acura to spin directly into the path of the eastbound utility truck, which then struck the car. The force of the two consecutive impacts split the Acura in half.
The oil tanker involved has a capacity of 3,000 gallons. While authorities have not yet confirmed how much fuel was on board at the time of the crash, the vehicle did begin leaking. Hazardous materials crews successfully mitigated the leak, and arrangements were made to pump the remaining oil into another tanker.
Route 101 remains closed in both directions between Baboosic Lake Road and Route 101A while crash reconstruction teams investigate the scene and crews clear debris. Authorities expect the roadway to remain shut down for several hours.
Numerous mutual aid fire departments have stepped in to assist at the crash site and provide local station coverage. Additional resources on scene include the New Hampshire State Police, the N.H. Medical Examiner’s Office, the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, the N.H. Fire Marshal’s Office, and the N.H. Department of Transportation.
