Route 106 safety campaign begins days after accident leaving 5 injured

BELMONT — A major traffic enforcement initiative along Route 106 is underway, and just in the nick of time.

A serious head-on collision on the road Friday afternoon is under investigation, police in Belmont say.

Officers from the Belmont Police Department responded to an accident on 106 around 1:30 p.m. Friday. The crash involved two vehicles which collided head-on, resulting in injuries to all five occupants of the vehicles. 

All five were transported to hospitals with serious injuries, the extent of which were initially unknown. Officers from Belmont, New Hampshire State Police, Laconia Police Department, Northfield Police Department and emergency responders from Belmont, Gilmanton and Laconia and the Belknap County Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene of the wreck, according to a police press release.

“We remind all motorists to exercise caution, remain attentive while driving, and follow all traffic laws to prevent accidents on our roadways,” the release reads in part. 

Monday morning, Belmont Police Lt. Evan Boulanger said two of those injured were transported to Concord Hospital, while three were shuttled to Concord Hospital-Laconia. By Monday, just one of the five remained hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

“We are working closely with our regional partners from the accident reconstruction team to determine or rule out any mechanical or human factors that may have contributed to the crash,” he said.

The cause of the wreck remains under investigation, and police in Belmont are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or may have additional information to contact them at 603-267-8350.

“This section of New Hampshire Route 106 has been particularly dangerous over the years, and despite the implementation of rumble strips, it continues to be a problem area for serious crashes,” Boulanger wrote in an email about the initiative.

Meanwhile, Sunday marked the beginning of a large, multi-agency effort to enforce traffic laws and prevent accidents along the Route 106 corridor between Concord and Laconia. The high-visibility effort covers a 35-mile stretch through Belknap and Merrimack counties.

“Officers will be out in full force, focusing on aggressive driving, impaired driving, and distracted driving to reduce crashes and save lives,” Boulanger wrote.

State, county and local law enforcement agencies are participating in the effort, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety. 

In a press release, Boulanger notes there have been 10 traffic deaths along that stretch of road since Jan. 1, 2021. 

State Police say the goal of the initiative is to prevent crashes and injuries. 

“Route 106 is a busy thoroughfare connecting residents, business owners, and visitors from the Capital Region to the Lakes Region,” New Hampshire Department of Safety Assistant Commissioner Eddie Edwards wrote in a release. “We hope that this enforcement effort will educate drivers about the risks of dangerous behaviors behind the wheel and encourage them to make safer choices.”