Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash in Epping

EPPING, N.H. – On Friday, August 30, 2024, at approximately 1:55 a.m., State Troopers assigned to the Troop A barracks responded to Route 101 West at the Martin Road overpass in the Town of Epping for a report of a motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, Troopers determined that the crash involved a single motor vehicle, identified as a 2015 Nissan Rogue, and discovered that the lone occupant was severely injured and heavily entrapped within the vehicle.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the Nissan, operated by Patricia Strohman, 70, of The Villages, Florida, had been traveling along Route 101 West approaching the Martin Road overpass when, for reasons that remain under investigation, Strohman lost control of the Nissan, resulting in the Nissan departing the right side of the highway and traveling several hundred feet along a grassy embankment before striking the cement bridge abutment at the Martin Road overpass. Ultimately, Strohman succumbed to her injuries at the scene. 

While Troopers investigated the scene and emergency personnel worked to remove the Nissan and associated debris, all travel lanes of Route 101 West were closed and traffic was diverted off of Exit 7 for approximately three and a half hours until the scene was cleared at 5:35 a.m. Multiple agencies assisted members of Troop A at the scene and with the investigation, including Troopers from the Troop B barracks and the New Hampshire State Police Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Unit, along with members of the Epping Police Department, the Raymond Police Department, the Epping Fire Department, the Brentwood Fire Department, the Exeter Hospital Paramedics Advanced Life Support (ALS) Unit, the New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, and New England Truck Center. 

All aspects of this crash remain under further investigation by Trooper Clark Brighton. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Brighton at Clark.A.Brighton@DOS.NH.GOV.