Chief: Quick action by driver avoiding head-on crash in Center Harbor likely saved lives

CENTER HARBOR — A driver suffering from an apparent medical episode narrowly missed a head-on collision after passing out behind the wheel, and crashing into the woods last week.

Police Chief Mark Chase said the accident could have been much worse, as a man driving with a child in a carseat maneuvered out of the way of the oncoming vehicle in his lane.

The Center Harbor Police and Fire departments responded to an accident on Whittier Highway at 5:11 p.m. on Sept. 30. Chase said Sgt. Andrew Lipsom responded to a report of a vehicle that went into the guardrail, and found a Toyota RAV4 on its side in the woods.

Firefighters reported the vehicle was about 20 feet into the woods.

Chase said the RAV4 was facing one direction, turned around, and came back the other way, entering the oncoming lane. The other car, a Chevy Silverado pickup truck, made an “evasive action,” driving into the other lane to avoid hitting the RAV4.

The Silverado’s passenger side mirror was clipped, but otherwise there was no damage to the vehicle, and no injuries to the 29-year-old driver nor child.

Chase said a 57-year-old man was driving by himself in the RAV4. Lipsom, with help from bystanders, broke the glass of the vehicle’s sunroof to get him out.

“Several people stopped to help,” Chase said.

Chase said Moultonborough Police, State Police, and a deputy with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office also assisted.

The RAV4 driver was conscious, but disoriented, as he was taken out of the SUV, and only suffered minor injuries. He was taken to Concord Hospital-Laconia by Stewart’s Ambulance for treatment, including for his medical condition, according to Chase.

According to information from Center Harbor Fire, Moultonborough Fire was called for backup, because the closest rescue from Meredith Fire was on another call. Since the patient was able to be taken out of the vehicle, Moultonborough Fire was sent back in service.

Chase said it was “very fortunate” the accident wasn’t much worse, and the driver of the Silverado was “on his toes” to maneuver the way he did.

“This very easily could have been a fatality without his quick actions.”