Fiery Crash On Route 101 Leads To DWI Charge Against Bedford Driver

EPPING, NH — A woman from Bedford is lucky to be alive after becoming trapped in her vehicle while it was burning after a drunken driving crash on Route 101 on Tuesday.

Around 6 p.m., New Hampshire State Police were sent to Epping for a report of a single vehicle where the driver left the eastbound side of the highway and crashed into trees on the right side. Troopers arrived and found the 2017 Chevrolet Trax engulfed in flames, Amber Lagace, the public information officer for the state police, said.

“The first trooper on scene quickly determined that the driver was alert but unable to exit the vehicle,” she said. “The trooper immediately broke through the front driver’s window and extracted the driver.”

There were no other vehicles involved or passengers in the vehicle, Lagace said.

The driver was identified as Grace Patterson, 41, of Bedford, and she was taken to Exeter Hospital with minor injuries. Later, she was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge and a marked lanes violation. Patterson is due in Brentwood District Court on April 2. The trooper was also treated for minor injuries at the hospital.

“Aside from impairment contributing to this event, all aspects of the crash remain under investigation,” Lagace added.

Lagace said one eastbound lane was closed for around 45 minutes during cleanup. State troopers were assisted by Epping firefighters and EMS, Epping police, and Dana’s Towing.

Anyone with information leading up to the crash or who may have witnessed the crash, was asked to contact Trooper Matthew Dushame, via email, at matthew.t.dushame@dos.nh.gov.

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