1 injured in single-car rollover likely caused by icy roads

GILFORD — Poor road conditions following the region's heavy snow Tuesday and Wednesday morning are believed to be the cause of a rollover accident Wednesday on Lake Shore Road. The driver was sent to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Gilford Police and Fire departments responded to a report of a single vehicle accident at 5:41 a.m. on Dec. 3, near the entrance to Lakeshore Park on Lake Shore Road, also known as Route 11.

Police Lt. Adam VanSteensburg said the driver was heading from Alton toward town, and while it wasn’t snowing at the time of the crash, the vehicle slid off the road, likely due to slippery conditions.

“It looks like he caught the corner of the road, and lost it from there,” VanSteensburg said.

Police interviewed a witness about the accident, who indicated there was no reason to believe excessive speed or aggressive driving was a factor in the rollover. VanSteensburg also said that section of road frequently can cause issues for drivers.

“That is a rough corner,” VanSteensburg said. “Either way, going up or down, it catches people.

“It looks like purely an accident based on the road conditions.

James Cross of Laconia witnessed the accident, and said he was traveling up the road heading east. The vehicle passed him heading west, lost control, and rolled three times. Cross stopped to check on the driver, and stayed until first responders arrived.

“He literally lost control as we passed each other,” Cross said. “I immediately called 911, and backed up about 40 feet, and threw my flashers on.”

A photograph of the accident taken by Cross shows the vehicle on its side, damaged, and the road covered with snow.

“Roads were icy,” Cross said.

Fire Chief Steve Carrier said the driver was alone in the vehicle, and while he was able to get out himself and walk on his own, he was transported to Concord Hospital-Laconia for non-life-threatening injuries. Carrier called it a “precautionary transport.”

Carrier said a utility pole was broken in the accident, and a section of Lake Shore was temporarily shut down until a tow truck cleared the scene. The roadway was opened back up to traffic at 6:53 a.m.