MANCHESTER, NH – On October 4, 2017 at approximately 2:47 p.m., Troopers from the New Hampshire State Police Troop B Barracks, with the assistance of Troop G, responded to the report of a commercial motor vehicle [tractor trailer] rollover on Route 293 north at Exit 5. The vehicle had overturned and come to rest on the driver side facing southbound traffic, lying across the slow speed lane and the Exit 5 on-ramp.
Emergency personnel from the Manchester Fire Department responded and quelled a diesel fuel spill caused by a rupture of one of the tractors fuel tanks. The operator, identified as James Stanley of Lebanon, was transported to Catholic Medical Center with minor injuries.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the tractor semi-trailer entered onto Route 293 traveling northbound from Exit 4. Immediately after crossing over the Granite Street Bridge, the vehicle entered what is commonly referred to as a “jack-knife” movement. The tractor unit was attempting to overtake a vehicle traveling in the slow speed lane when the trailer broke to the left, struck the rumble strip, and began to overtake the tractor unit. The weight of the trailer, which was loaded with hospital linens, overturned to the left side causing the attached tractor unit to overturn in conjunction with it. After overturning, the vehicle slid for several hundred feet before coming to rest blocking the Exit 5 ramp and slow speed lanes.
There were no other vehicles or persons involved in the incident.
The tractor carrier is owned by Daniels Transport Corporation from White River Junction, VT.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation assisted State Police on-scene by establishing an alternate route of travel until the travel lane and on-ramp was re-opened several hours later. Anyone with additional information on the incident which would aid in the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Quintiliani of the New Hampshire State Police Troop B Barracks in Bedford at 603-666-3334.
