Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash - Updated

UPDATE: The deceased operator has been identified as John Toussaint, age 33, of Newmarket, NH.  At this time, the investigation remains active and ongoing.  There are no further details.

PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire – On September 28, 2023, at approximately 4:59 p.m., Troopers from the New Hampshire State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit responded to Ocean Road in Portsmouth at the request of the Portsmouth Police Department for the report of a motor vehicle crash. 

The vehicle involved in the crash was identified as a:
Nissan Sentra
Color: Gray

At approximately 4:47 p.m., Deputies from the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office observed a gray Nissan Sentra that had an expired inspection sticker and front-end damage on Route 101 in Hampton.  The Sentra continued traveling, getting onto Route 27.  After attempting to stop the vehicle on Route 27, it fled from Deputies and was last seen heading northbound on Route 1 in the Town of Hampton. 

Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office put out a be on the lookout (BOLO) for the vehicle to other local agencies.  Minutes later, an officer from the Greenland Police Department observed the vehicle on Post Road.  The Greenland Police Officer activated his emergency lights but due to the Sentra’s high rate of speed and erratic driving, the Greenland Police Officer lost sight of the vehicle on Post Road.  The vehicle took a right on Route 33 and then took a right onto Ocean Road, continuing at a high rate of speed until the driver lost control and went off of the right side of the roadway into the woods in the area of 424 Ocean Road in Portsmouth.  The driver of the vehicle was transported to the Portsmouth Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.  The identity of the driver of the Sentra is being withheld pending positive identification.  No other vehicles or individuals were involved in the crash.

All aspects of this crash remain under investigation. Anyone who may have witnesses the crash, or has any information related to the incident is asked to contact Trooper First Class Nathaniel Goodwin at (603) 545-4288 or Nathaniel.D.Goodwin@dos.nh.gov.