North Hampton firefighters transported five occupants of a sedan to the hospital following a crash on Interstate 95 southbound on Sunday. The occupant of a pickup truck involved in the crash was also transported. (Photo Courtesy North Hampton Fire Rescue)
NORTH HAMPTON — Interim Chief Jacob MacGlashing reports that the North Hampton Fire Department responded to a serious crash on Interstate 95 on Sunday evening, requiring the highway to be shut down as firefighters used hydraulic tools to rescue people from two of the involved vehicles.
On Sunday, Aug. 31, at approximately 5:08 p.m., North Hampton firefighters were dispatched to Interstate 95 southbound, near mile marker 7.6, for a serious crash involving several vehicles.
Firefighters arrived to discover a severely damaged sedan in the roadway, along with a pickup truck that rolled onto its side in the wooded highway median.
Five people were inside the sedan, and one was inside the pickup truck. One occupant of the sedan was trapped and partially ejected, while the sole occupant of the pickup truck was also trapped inside.
North Hampton firefighters used hydraulic spreaders, hydraulic cutters, a hydraulic ram, and battery-powered glass cutters to free the entrapped vehicle occupants.
Firefighters immediately conducted a triage of the patients and provided treatment at the scene before transporting them by ambulance to local hospitals. Five of the vehicle occupants were transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, while the other was transported to Seabrook Emergency Room.
Three of the patients were in critical condition.
Interstate 95 southbound was shut down entirely for about 45 minutes as firefighters responded to the scene. One lane was then opened for traffic as New Hampshire State Police continued an on-scene investigation until the entire highway was reopened around 10 p.m.
Two North Hampton Fire engines and a North Hampton ambulance responded to the scene.
Mutual aid was provided by neighboring communities, including a Greenland Fire Department engine, two Portsmouth Fire Department ambulances, a Hampton Fire Department ambulance, a Rye Fire Department ambulance, and a Seabrook Fire Department ambulance.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation assisted with traffic, in addition to the New Hampshire State Police.
The crash remains under investigation by the New Hampshire State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit.
“It was a chaotic scene when we first arrived. But everyone’s professionalism really shined through as we helped extricate patients and get everyone to the hospital,” said North Hampton Fire Lt. Will Taber. “It was a total team effort from all the agencies involved, along with bystanders who helped care for some of the pediatric patients.”
“I’d like to commend our firefighters for an excellent job despite very difficult circumstances,” said Interim Chief MacGlashing. “I’d like to also thank all of our mutual aid partners for their quick, effective response, helping to provide treatment and transportation for everyone who was injured by the crash. It was great work all around.”
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North Hampton firefighters extricated the sole occupant of a pickup truck involved in the crash. The pickup truck rolled over onto its side in the wooded area of the highway median. (Photo Courtesy North Hampton Fire Rescue)
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