Three people died in a traffic accident on Route 101 that closed the highway for hours

CANDIA, NH — New Hampshire State Police and Candia, Auburn and Raymond fire departments responded Saturday to a report of a head-on collision on Route 101 at mile marker 69 near the Depot Road overpass.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., several patients were reported on the way to the accident scene and a Boston MedFlight helicopter was requested to the accident scene.

Due to the use of helicopters and large equipment, the firefighters requested that the motorway be closed in both directions.

After the situation of the victims had been assessed, the helicopter operation was cancelled. Traffic on Route 101 was backed up for miles in both directions.

State police eventually allowed westbound traffic to turn around in the median and head east to exit the highway. After westbound traffic was cleared for over an hour, the eastbound highway was reopened. Immediately after 101 East was reopened, a rear-end crash occurred near Exit 3 in Candia, causing a vehicle to roll over. The highway was closed again eastbound due to this incident.

A pickup truck and another vehicle collided in the eastbound lanes. The pickup truck crossed the median and struck a large SUV head-on in the westbound lanes near the Depot Road overpass. The impact sent the SUV flying into a swampy area on the side of 101.

Authorities confirmed that three people died, two at the scene and a third person succumbed to their injuries after being taken to Elliot Hospital. Two other people had non-life-threatening injuries.

We are awaiting official information from the State Police and will provide updates as soon as they are available.