Motor Vehicle Fatality - Spaulding Turnpike northbound connector, Portsmouth

On Friday January 22, 2021 at approximately 6:30 am, Troopers from the New Hampshire State Police Troop-A Barracks responded to a rollover motor vehicle crash on the northbound connector to the Spaulding Turnpike in the city of Portsmouth. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Ford Freestyle was traveling northbound in the left lane, when for reasons that remain under investigation, the driver lost control, striking the guardrail on the left hand side of the roadway. As a result, the vehicle rolled over and subsequently crossed both lanes of travel. After striking the guardrail on the opposite side of the roadway, the vehicle came to final rest on its roof. The operator, identified as Marisa Douglass, age 49 of Amesbury, Massachusetts was ejected from the vehicle and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of this crash remains under investigation.

The roadway remained closed for approximately four hours while Troopers investigated the crash. Commuter traffic was moderately impacted as vehicles had to be diverted around the crash scene.

Assisting State Police Troop-A at the scene were, Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments, NH Department of Transportation and Lafayette Towing.

Anyone with information pertaining to this crash is asked to contact TFC Timothy Sawyer, NH State Police, Troop-A at (603) 223-8490, or via email at timothy.sawyer@dos.nh.gov.