DWI charge follows Tilton crash

3 critically injured in Route 3 head-on

By ROGER AMSDEN, for THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

TILTON — The driver of a northbound vehicle which crossed over a double yellow line and collided head-on with a southbound vehicle Monday morning on Route 3 has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated.

State Police said that three people suffered life-threatening injuries in the 10:06 a.m. accident and that two of them were transported by medical evacuation helicopters to hospitals in Portland, Maine, and Boston, Massachusetts.

According to a press release issued by State Police, Tilton Police responded to the accident which took place in front of the Lord Hampshire Motel and Cottages. Their investigation revealed that a black 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, operated by Brian S. Gage, 33, of Pittsfield, was traveling northbound on Route 3. Simultaneously a blue 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer, operated by Dennis Bourey, 55, of Sanbornton, was traveling southbound on the same stretch of highway.

"For unknown reasons at this time the 2006 black Pontiac Grand Prix crossed over the solid double yellow center line and into the path of the blue 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. As a result of this collision both operators suffered life threatening injuries," the press release reads.

Gage was transported to Lakes Region General Hospital where he was subsequently med-flighted to the Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. Bourey was also transported to the Lakes Region General Hospital. The passenger in his vehicle, Patricia Bourey, 50, of Sanbornton, was transported to the Lakes Region General Hospital, where she was then med-flighted to the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, with life-threatening injuries

Route 3 was closed to traffic for more than three hours following the accident. The crash investigation is being handled by the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, with assistance from the Tilton Police Department. Anyone that may have further information related to this collision is encouraged to contact Trooper First Class Michael J. Pelletier at 603-223-8699 or by email at michael.pelletier@dos.nh.gov.

Three people suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash shortly after 10 a.m. Monday morning on Route 3 in Tilton. The driver of the northbound vehicle, shown at left in the above photo, has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated. (Roger Amsden/for The Laconia Daily Sun)

The crash occurred in front of the Lord Hampshire Inn. (Courtesy Tilton Police)