Motor Vehicle Collision Involving DOT Vehicle, Route 101 - Auburn

Auburn, NH – On April 28, 2022 at approximately 11:30 AM, the New Hampshire State Police Troop A Barracks was notified of a motor vehicle collision along the eastbound lanes of Route 101 in Auburn. As further information was gathered, it was determined that a passenger car had collided with the back-end of a full-sized New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) vehicle.

Responding personnel determined that lane one had been closed for roadway maintenance, just east of Exit 2. Several DOT employees were actively working within the travel lane, and the International Flatbed truck, with crash attenuator, was at the forefront of the lane closure. The DOT truck was stationary at the time of the event and occupied by one additional employee.

As roadwork continued, a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle was traveling east along Route 101. The driver of the Volkswagen, 78 year-old Helen Simpson of Manchester, failed to acknowledge the lane closure and drove into the back-end of the DOT truck. The Volkswagen suffered disabling damage. Simpson and her 76 year-old passenger were initially trapped within the vehicle, although emergency personnel were able to quickly extract both of them. None of the involved parties suffered any major injuries and were all transported to the Elliot Hospital for precautionary medical evaluation.

New Hampshire State Police received assistance at the scene from several different agencies, to include, NH Department of Transportation, Hooksett Fire, American Medical Response, Derry Fire, Candia Fire and Candia Police Departments. Lane one of the highway remained closed for approximately 45 minutes while efforts were made to clear the scene.

Statements from Simpson indicate that distraction by an electronic device may have contributed to this event, however all aspects remain under investigation. State Police is requesting that anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Trooper Tien Le at Tien.D.Le@dos.nh.gov.