One dead, one injured in wrong-way crash on Route 16 in Milton, NH
MILTON, NH – A wrong-way crash on Route 16 early Friday morning left one man dead and another seriously injured.
New Hampshire State Police responded to the scene shortly after 4:30 a.m. and found a Volkswagen Jetta and a Nissan Kicks in opposing breakdown lanes, both severely damaged. Just moments before the collision, dispatch received a report of a vehicle driving north in the southbound lane.
Preliminary investigations revealed that 77-year-old Edward Correia of Portsmouth was driving north in the southbound lane of the Volkswagen when he collided with the southbound Nissan, operated by 67-year-old Jeremiah Coleman of West Ossipee. Authorities noted the section of highway lacks physical barriers between the lanes and are investigating what caused Correia to drive into oncoming traffic.
Correia was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Coleman was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with serious injuries; however, he is expected to survive.
Route 16 between exits 17 and 18 remained closed for approximately three hours while emergency personnel managed the situation and traffic was diverted.
Authorities are seeking any additional information that may assist the investigation. Those with relevant details are encouraged to contact Trooper Shane McClure at Shane.M.McClure@dos.nh.gov.