2 dead in Route 104 head-on crash between dump truck, minivan

MEREDITH — Two occupants of a minivan died after colliding head-on with a dump truck on Route 104 on Monday.

Meredith Police responded to a report of a collision at 11:20 a.m. on Nov. 2, involving a 2015 Peterbilt dump truck and a 2006 Toyota Sienna minivan just west of Pease Road. Capt. Phil McLaughlin said the dump truck was driving west, and the minivan east, when they collided.

“It was a head on,” McLaughlin said. “The dump truck rolled over, and both ended up off the westbound shoulder.”

The driver of the minivan was a 61-year-old man, and the passenger was a 62-year-old woman, both from Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.

The dump truck driver, a 66-year-old man from Northfield, was taken by Stewart’s Ambulance to Concord Hospital-Concord to be treated for serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police are withholding the identities of the victims until their families are notified.

Conservation Officer Kenneth St. Pierre, of NH Fish and Game, along with several drivers who witnessed the accident, rendered aid to the injured truck driver.

McLaughlin said the crash is under investigation, including which vehicle went over the center line, and why. Witnesses spoke to police following the crash, and the Belknap Regional Accident Investigation Team conducted an investigation, which was completed by 3 p.m.

“I won’t speculate to what the cause was, so we’ll see what the report says,” McLaughlin said.

New Hampton Police and State Police also responded to the accident.

Michal Sventek, spokesperson for State Police, deferred comments to Meredith Police.

“While our Troop G members assisted, this is a Meredith PD case, so I would refer you to them for additional information,” Sventek said.

Meredith Fire also responded to the crash. Chief Ken Jones was at the scene and unavailable for comment by deadline.

As of 3 p.m. Monday, the road was still closed between Pease and Corliss roads, but McLaughlin expected it to be open “in the next hour to 90 minutes.”

Meredith Police notified the public about the road closure through social media, asking drivers to plan accordingly, seek alternate routes, and avoid the area while emergency crews continued work at the scene.

The vehicles were removed from the scene by Rusty’s Towing and Harper’s Towing.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Meredith Det. Scott Weiss at 603-279-4561.