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Will NH put median barriers on I-95? Nearly 100 fatalities on state’s major roads in 2024

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Will NH put median barriers on I-95? Nearly 100 fatalities on state’s major roads in 2024


The New Hampshire Department of Transportation is weighing whether to install median barriers on Interstate 95, a consideration coming days after a double fatal car crash in Greenland on the major highway.

The two-car accident that left two people dead Wednesday afternoon and sent a third person to a local hospital remains under investigation by New Hampshire State Police. Data provided by a state police spokesperson shows fatal car accidents in New Hampshire this year are roughly equal to fatal crashes that occurred in 2023.

Jennifer Lane, spokesperson for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, said the state has been contemplating putting in median barriers along the roadway, though no plans have been finalized. 

Lane stated in a Friday interview there is no timeline for a potential decision, nor any cost estimates.

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“In light of the recent serious crashes involving vehicles crossing the median, we are considering further safety measures, including the installation of median barriers,” she added in a prepared statement. “However, at this time, no specific plans or funding have been established for these improvements. NHDOT remains committed to monitoring safety along I-95 and all of our roadways to ensure the well-being of the traveling public.”

More: Youth driving deaths surge 400% in NH. What police are doing about it.

In the Wednesday crash, Steve Le, 24, of Methuen, Massachusetts lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the median into the opposite lanes and struck a southbound 2019 Ford Econoline. Le and the Ford operator, Leslie Lynn, a 58-year-old from Roanoke, Virginia, were both declared dead at the scene and traffic was slowed for hours, according to state police.

A passenger in Lynn’s vehicle was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, state police previously reported.

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Tyler Dumont, spokesperson for New Hampshire State Police, did not have any updates Friday.

“The investigation is ongoing,” he said.

New Hampshire studied I-95 median barriers in 2012

Lane said the department has been considering putting median barriers in place since long before the deadly collision in Greenland. 

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation evaluated Interstate 95 and other highways in the Granite State for potential median barrier installation in a 2012 study. The department ultimately determined the interstate did not need median barriers at the time, though the study found the Seacoast area had one of the higher motorist accident rates in the state.

The Department of Transportation undertook the study before roadway improvements “in order to help eliminate the potential of ‘crossover’ accidents on divided highways with medians 30 to 50 feet in width,” the 2012 findings state.

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“The purpose of this study was to identify potential areas for improvement and to develop a prioritized list of recommendations in the form of a matrix,” Lane’s statement added.

Driving deaths in the Seacoast on Interstate 95 are not uncommon. In late February, a California woman was killed near the Portsmouth-Greenland line when the northbound car she was riding in lost control, rolled over and ended up in the breakdown lane of the southbound lanes. The driver of the vehicle was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

New Hampshire State Police recorded 96 fatal crashes on the state’s major roadways for the year through Monday, Oct. 14, only four less than the same period last year. Those statistics were compiled prior to the double fatal incident in Greenland on Wednesday.

Available data from state police shows 105 people have been killed in those 96 fatal crashes for the year until Oct. 14. That includes 47 motor vehicle operators, nine of whom were under 21 years of age, according to New Hampshire State Police.

State police recorded 119 fatal motor vehicle crashes on the state’s major roadways in all of 2023, resulting in 127 deaths. In 2022, there were a total of 146 people that died from 137 fatal motor vehicle crashes on New Hampshire State Police-patrolled roads.

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“It’s always on our minds,” Lane said in a Friday interview of potentially adding median barriers. “There’s always room for improvement. The study was done in 2012. A lot has changed.”

“Drive the speed limit, pay attention and be aware of your surroundings,” she urged drivers.

New Hampshire is the lone state in the nation to not require adults to wear seatbelts in the front seat of vehicles, though children are required to. Adult motorcyclists in New Hampshire are not required to wear helmets. Since July 2015, the state’s “hands free” law has banned all motorists from using their cell phone or other handheld electronic device while driving.



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New Hampshire

Town Of Bow: Tax Collector Says Bills Will Be Mailed Out In Early December

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Town Of Bow: Tax Collector Says Bills Will Be Mailed Out In Early December


From the office of the Tax Collector:

I am reaching out due to the high volume of phone calls and emails we’ve received from concerned residents regarding their property tax bills.

As a result of the property tax revaluation this year, the tax rate-setting process has been delayed. We are still awaiting the finalized tax rate from the Department of Revenue. Because of this delay, we anticipate that the warrant will be prepared, and tax bills will be mailed out early December. The due date for taxes will be the second week of January, 2025.

I want to inform you that this information will also be available online for your reference. Tax bills will be posted online once they are mailed out under the online payment tab for property taxes.

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In the meantime, you may pay your taxes now based on last year’s tax amount, with the balance due once you receive your updated bill.

If you are looking to qualify for an income tax deduction, please be aware that payments must be received by December 31st, 2024.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.


This press release was produced by the Town of Bow. The views expressed here are the author’s own.



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Man Has Life-Threatening Injuries After 5 Vehicle Crash In Manchester

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Man Has Life-Threatening Injuries After 5 Vehicle Crash In Manchester


MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Fire, AMR and police responded to a report of a multi-vehicle crash with injuries at Silver Street and Maple Street Friday.

Firefighters and AMR arrived just after 5 p.m. and immediately requested additional ambulances after finding multiple people needing medical care.

Five vehicles were involved, including some parked on the side of Maple Street. The first vehicle, a grey 2019 Chevrolet Traverse, was operated by a 53-year-old man from Manchester, who sustained life-threatening injuries. A trauma alert at the Elliot was requested, and AMR transported the driver.

The passenger of the Chevrolet was a 50-year-old man also from Manchester who sustained minor injuries.

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The second vehicle involved was a green 2001 BMW 540I, operated by an 18-year-old man from Manchester who sustained minor injuries in the crash. The passenger of this vehicle was a 28-year-old male also from Manchester who sustained minor injuries in the crash.

The third vehicle involved was a silver 2004 Nissan 350Z, operated by a 17-year-old male from Manchester who sustained minor injuries as a result of this crash.

The fourth and fifth vehicles, a green 1999 Honda Accord and a grey 2008 Scion TC, were parked on Maple St.

Several witnesses who saw the vehicles moments before the crash said the BMW and Nissan operated by the teens appeared to be road racing at a very high speed.

One witness said the BMW was in the left lane, with the SUV in the right lane, as the Nissan approached they described it attempting to pass on the right and subsequently crashed into the parked cars.

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A utility pole with a significant number of power lines was broken from the impact of the vehicles. Eversource was requested to the scene and expected to work through the night on replacing it.

The Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating the cause and factors of this crash.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit at 603-668-8711.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news



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Contoocook Motorcyclist Indicted On 4th OUI Charge: Court Roundup

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Contoocook Motorcyclist Indicted On 4th OUI Charge: Court Roundup


CONCORD, NH — A Merrimack County grand jury indicted the following people recently.

Jonathan E. Ball, 63, of Academy Road in Pembroke, on two felony possession of child sexual abuse images charges. He was accused of possessing videos of a boy being raped on Feb. 13 in Pembroke. Ball was previously convicted of possession of child sexual abuse images in August 2011 in Merrimack County Superior Court.

Skylar Bennett, 41, of Snow Street in Concord, on motor vehicles; penalties and controlled drug act; acts prohibited charges, both felonies. He was accused of possessing cocaine while driving on Fisherville Road in Concord on June 23 after the NH DMV certified him as a habitual offender.

Alexander Sakovits, 33, of Timberwood Drive in Lebanon, on criminal threatening and three reckless conduct charges, all felonies. He was accused of forcibly taking ahold of the steering wheel of a vehicle twice on Route 3A, causing an intimate partner to lose control of the vehicle and drive off the road, and firing a gun in the direction of an intimate partner in Hooksett on June 16.

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Anthony “Andy” M. Sanborn, 62, of Eagle Drive in Bedford, on theft by deception and theft by unauthorized taking charges, both felonies. He was accused of misrepresenting gross receipts from Win, Win, Win, LCC, and-or the Draft receiving more than $1.5 million from the Main Street Relief Fund that he was not qualified to receive on June 9, 2020, in Concord.

Shawn S. Smith, 52, of North Main Street in Franklin, on a felony second-degree assault-domestic violence charge. He was accused of strangling an intimate partner on Aug. 24 in Franklin.

Mary Smolinsky, 32, of Country Land Drive in Haverhill, on possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl, and possession of crack cocaine charges, all felonies, in Bow on April 18.

Matthew Stark, 36, of Revere Place in Franklin, on a felony controlled drug act; acts prohibited-methadone charge on Dec. 7, 2023, in Franklin.

Jennifer Sullivan, 55, of Batchelder Street in Laconia, on a felony possession of methamphetamine charge on Aug. 7 in Northfield.

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John H. Tracey, 61, of Main Street/Route 103 in Contoocook, on motor vehicles; penalties and driving-operating under the influence of drugs-liquor-fourth offense charges, both felonies. He was accused of riding a motorcycle on Route 103 in Warner on July 12 after being deemed a habitual offender by the NH DMV.

Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.



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