Pedestrian killed Saturday in Belmont identified as Laconia resident

BELMONT — A Laconia resident was struck and killed Saturday while he was walking along Route 106.

Belmont Police Capt. Steve Akerstrom said several witnesses described a pedestrian, identified as Jason Clairmont, 46 years old, walking along the white line, which designates the edge of the travel lane. He was walking on the southbound side of the two-lane highway, also known as Laconia Road, around midday Saturday.

“There were a line of cars headed southbound on Laconia Road, there was a gentleman walking in the southbound breakdown lane, right on the white line,” Akerstrom said. “One of the vehicle operators saw him walking on the white line, moved over to try to avoid him. What is being said is he came into the roadway, the vehicle tried to avoid him, the first vehicle just barely hit him, a second vehicle that was traveling right behind struck him.”

Clairmont was pronounced dead at the scene. Akerstrom said the drivers of both vehicles have been “very cooperative” with the investigation, and several other witnesses have provided their accounts to police. Some of those witnesses described seeing a man walking on the white line prior to the accident.

The incident remains under investigation, and the accident reconstruction team is working on a detailed report of how the accident is thought to have happened. However, Akerstrom said all indicators available at this point suggest the drivers won’t be charged with any fault.

“It’s unknown why he was walking so close to the travel portion, on the white line,” Akerstrom said, encouraging any other witnesses to contact Belmont police at 603-267-8351.

“If there’s anyone else who did witness the accident, come forward. It’s always good to get everybody’s perspective on what took place," Akerstrom said. While there have been “a few” pedestrian accidents on that road in recent memory, Akerstrom said it doesn’t appear this incident was caused by anything related to road design or construction.

Clairmont’s obituary, published Tuesday, described him as a loving father to four children, as someone who excelled in skiing and ski jumping and participated in many other sports in his younger years, and who, as an adult, loved watching his relatives compete in motorsports.

A celebration of life has been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Wilkinson-Beane Carriage House.