Laconia man killed in head-on with logging truck

MEREDITH — A 66-year-old Laconia man lost his life on Monday morning when the pick-up truck he was driving drifted into the path of an on-coming logging truck.

The identity of the deceased man is being withheld until police are able to notify his family. Route 25 was closed for about four hours as local, regional and state police studied the accident scene. Neither speed nor alcohol are considered to be contributing factors and police do not expect charges to be brought as a result of the accident.

According to a statement provided by the Police Department, the accident occurred at 9:38 a.m. when the Laconia man, driving a 2001 GMC Sierra pick-up truck, was traveling westbound on Route 25, near the intersection with Old Center Harbor Road, when he crossed the center line. Approaching in the opposite direction was a Kenworth logging truck, its trailer loaded with logs, driven by a 66-year-old Meredith resident.

The driver of the logging truck pulled to the right in an attempt to avoid the pick-up truck but was unable to avoid the collision. Police are not sure what caused the driver to cross into the oncoming lane of traffic. The driver of the pick-up was pronounced dead on the scene, the driver of the logging truck was not injured.

The force of the impact sheared the steering wheel from the pick-up and left a trail of debris across the roadway. Some of that debris struck a third vehicle, an Audi driven by a 57-year-old Bow resident who did not sustain any injury.

The crash surprised Wayne Fletcher, a resident of Old Center Harbor Road, who was at his mailbox to collect his daily newspaper when he heard the two vehicles collide. He turned around and saw the pick-up come to a bouncing stop in a ditch alongside the road.

"When I first looked over, I thought he just had a blow-out," said Fletcher. However, when he noticed steam rising from the truck's engine bay and the stream of debris on the road, he knew the situation was more severe than a flat tire.

Fletcher was among the first to run to the aid of the driver, whose fate was apparent to his would-be rescuers. "It was bad, I'll tell you," he said.

CAPTION for MEREDITH CRASH TRUCK in AA:

A 66-year-old Laconia man died yesterday morning after colliding head-on with a logging truck on Route 25 in Meredith. Police are unsure what caused the driver to drift into the oncoming lane. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)

CAPTION for MEREDITH CRASH SCENE in AA:

A head-on collision in Meredith between a pick-up truck and a logging truck killed a Laconia man yesterday morning and left a trail of debris along Route 25. In the background, the logging truck involved in the accident has its cargo transferred to another vehicle. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)