BEDFORD, NH—A vehicle collided with a toll booth and caught fire on Tuesday, leaving one driver seriously injured.
The incident occurred at the Bedford Toll Plaza on the F.E. Everett Turnpike at approximately 2:41 p.m. The driver, identified as 51-year-old Yevgeny Mirman of Massachusetts, was trapped inside the vehicle until rescued by a member of Governor Kelly Ayotte's security detail. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital.
Authorities confirmed that the crash resulted in lane closures, impacting traffic for several hours. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation and local emergency services responded to the scene.
This event follows another incident on Sunday in which Aracelia Valentin, 45, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, crashed into the same toll booth, suffering minor injuries. Valentin was charged with driving while intoxicated.
Bedford Town Council Chair Phil Greazzo noted the toll plaza's history of serious accidents, prompting ongoing construction to convert it into an open road toll system, a project costing $16 million. “Funding was approved to replace the toll booths with open tolling to prevent further accidents,” Greazzo remarked.
Open tolling is scheduled to be implemented in September 2027. Lawmakers have advocated for the removal of toll booths following multiple accidents, including a deadly crash in June 2024 and a previous incident in November that left two injured.