Hearing rescheduled for driver in September fatal motorcycle accident

A Goffstown man who allegedly collided head-on with two motorcycles, killing three people and facing felony negligent homicide charges, will be back in Belknap County Superior Court for a conference on June 5, after originally being due back next week.

Anthony J. Summers, 32, is facing three felony charges of negligent homicide while drunk driving; three felony charges of negligent homicide; and a felony charge of falsifying evidence by refusing a blood draw.

Summers allegedly crossed the center line of Lake Shore Road in Gilford, on Sept. 20, hitting two motorcycles and killing three people. Scott Blomerth was operating one motorcycle with his wife Robyn as a passenger, and they died at the scene.

Timothy “TJ” Sullivan was operating the second motorcycle traveling behind the Blomerths. He was hospitalized after the accident, and died from his injuries on Oct. 5.

The accident occurred near Country Way, and eyewitnesses told police a 2025 Ford Bronco, driven by Summers, was over the line when he hit the victims. Some said he was half, or more, over the line when the accident occurred. Summers admitted at the scene he was distracted, turning his focus from the road to his passenger, as the crash occurred.

“The reconstruction report said the center of the Ford Bronco was four feet to the left of the center line when the vehicle made contact with the motorcycles,” County Attorney Keith Cormier said in a Jan. 6 hearing. “So, from the state’s perspective, this is an individual who engaged in reckless behavior and cost three individuals their lives.”

Summers refused a blood draw at the accident scene, but about six hours later registered a 0.027 blood alcohol content, after a warrant was issued to take his blood. He also had THC and amphetamines in his system, according to testimony in court on Jan. 6, by Cormier.

While officers at the scene reported Summers' eyes were bloodshot, the defense said Summers was not impaired, and his BAC was under the legal limit. Summers is represented by Alex Yiokarinis, of Russman Law Offices.

An accident reconstruction included a scan of the area by drones and data taken from the vehicle. It was estimated Summers was driving 37-41 mph at the time of the crash, and the motorcycles were traveling at 29-31 mph.

Summers first appeared in Laconia District Court on two negligent homicide charges, and a falsifying evidence charge, before his case was elevated to Superior Court, on Oct. 1. He was initially denied bail, and held in Belknap County Jail. He was indicted on the seven felony charges he currently faces on Dec. 19.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt. Rather, it is a finding by a Grand Jury that enough evidence of an alleged crime exists to warrant bringing a case to trial.

The defense requested Summers be let out on bail on Jan. 6. The request was granted by Judge Elizabeth Leonard, after about two weeks of consideration. Summers was released on Jan. 21, and placed on house arrest with the stipulations he not drive, and stay at home except for work or court-approved outings like medical appointments or meeting with his attorney.

The defense made a motion on Feb. 6 to amend the bail, so Summers could attend religious services. The court granted the request Feb. 17. The state took no position on the ruling.

At a Feb. 17 dispositional conference, Cormier asked it be continued, saying “the parties need a little more time.” Yiokarinis said the defense was in the process of obtaining results from the accident reconstruction, and needed time to prepare.

The dispositional conference was continued to May 22, but on May 1, the defense motioned to again continue the conference. The motion was granted on May 4, by Judge Mark Attorri.

Cormier said the defense request for a continuance is not unusual or unexpected, as larger cases take time, to get the discovery together, and evaluate expert analysis. This includes body camera footage and witness reports, which are “a lot to go through and sift through.”

“We certainly don’t want to drag it on longer than we have to, but it takes time to review the evidence,” Cormier said.

Cormier noted at the last hearing, the defense said they were finding an expert, and having an accident reconstruction done separate from one completed by the state. He declined to comment on the details of the state's case.

Efforts to reach Yiokarinis by email and phone were unsuccessful by deadline.

The dispositional conference has been rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 5, with Leonard presiding, in Belknap Superior Court.