Truck drivers cited for speed during storm in separate crashes

The scene of a crash involving two tractor-trailer trucks on I-93 southbound in Salem Thursday morning.

The scene of a crash involving two tractor-trailer trucks on I-93 southbound in Salem Thursday morning. New Hampshire State Police—Courtesy

A truck reportedly struck an overhead sign structure near exit 4 on the Everett Tur

A truck reportedly struck an overhead sign structure near exit 4 on the Everett Tur New Hampshire State Police—Courtesy

By ARIANNA MACNEILL

Monitor staff

Published: 04-04-2024 4:41 PM

Two additional truck crashes also resulted in drivers being cited for speeding during the storm, this time southbound on the Everett Turnpike and on I-93 southbound in Salem on Thursday, according to police.

For one of the crashes, police were called around 6:30 a.m. to the area near exit 4 for a reported traffic obstruction, police said.

When they arrived, they found that a 2023 white Western Star 49X flatbed truck, which was hauling a dumpster, had been reportedly operating too fast for the road conditions. The driver reportedly lost control and crashed into an overhead sign structure, leaving the sign too unsafe for traffic to pass underneath.

The driver, Jonathan Soto, 36, of Worcester, Mass., suffered minor injuries and was issued a summons for negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

The highway was shutdown at exit 4 until around 11:30 a.m. while crews from the state Department of Transportation, Continental Paving, and Bauchman’s Towing, Inc., worked to remove the damaged sign and flatbed truck from the road.

Later in the morning, state police say they were called to the area near mile marker 9.8  on I-93 southbound around 9:15 a.m. for a report of a crash involving two tractor-trailer trucks.

On scene, authorities found the trucks “entangled” with one laying on its side, both off the road on the grass median, authorities said in a press release.

Via investigation, police believe a white 2023 Freightliner PT 126DC, driven by Brian Houle, 63, of Hubbardston, Mass., was passing the second truck on the right when the truck first drifted into the right breakdown lane, then jackknifed and crashed into the second truck, police said.

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The second truck, a 2022 white Freightliner PT 126DC, was being driven by Frederick Kwayisi, 44, of Salisbury, according to authorities.

Neither driver was injured, and traffic was not impacted. Houle was cited for driving too fast during the existing road conditions.

State police were assisted by the state Department of Transportation and Woody’s Auto Repair and Towing. The Salem Fire Department also responded and helped clean up spilled diesel.

Wednesday, also during the storm, a truck rolled over on I-89 southbound in Warner. State police also cited the driver for driving too fast with the road conditions.