MANCHESTER, N.H. — A box truck was recovered from the Merrimack River on Wednesday afternoon after a crash on the I-293 bridge.
According to New Hampshire State Police, the truck went over the guardrail and fell approximately 50 feet into the river, resulting in a multi-vehicle incident involving up to six cars. The crash closed Interstate 293 North at the junction with Interstate 93 for vehicle recovery operations.
Emergency crews utilized a crane and dive teams to hoist the truck back onto the bridge. The driver, a 26-year-old Massachusetts man, was not injured but managed to evacuate to the top of the vehicle until rescue efforts commenced.
Seven individuals were transported to local hospitals, with one minor suffering serious injuries. Authorities reported that the northbound lanes were initially shut down but were reopened by 4:15 p.m.
Bedford Fire Chief Frank Fraitzl noted, “Both Manchester and Bedford fire launched boats, executing simultaneous river rescue and multi-vehicle accident responses.”
A light sheen was observed on the river's surface, prompting the Department of Environmental Services to deploy booms to contain potential spills.
The investigation into the accidents is ongoing.