Belmont driver cited after allegedly hitting parked police cruiser

BELMONT — A Belmont driver was cited after allegedly crashing into a parked Laconia police cruiser blocking the road at the scene of an unrelated accident on Saturday.

Christopher Truett, 37, of Belmont, was cited by State Police for negligent driving, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, and disobeying an officer, among other citations.

According to members of State Police Troop E, troopers received a report at 8:05 p.m. on Oct. 18 that a Laconia police cruiser was hit at the intersection of Old Prescott Hill and Laconia roads. A preliminary investigation by State Police found Truett’s 2011 Chevrolet Silverado crashed into the police vehicle, which had its emergency lights on at the scene of a separate accident which happened less than a half-hour earlier.

The Laconia officer was assisting the Belmont Police Department by detouring traffic, and was not inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported, but both vehicles were heavily damaged.

Photographs provided by Laconia police show the side of the police SUV crushed, and the rear, driver’s side airbags were deployed with a window smashed. The Silverado pickup truck’s front bumper was crushed, and both headlights and turn signals were heavily damaged. The hood of the pickup truck was pushed up, revealing the engine.

Laconia Police Capt. Allan Graton said on Monday it was “a pretty bad accident,” and it did not appear the driver slowed down before hitting the cruiser.

Laconia Road was closed for about 30 minutes as State Police investigated the crash. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

The accident is being investigated by State Police, and anyone who witnessed the crash and has information is asked to contact Trooper Thomas Seager at Thomas.M.Seager@dos.nh.gov.