A head-on three-vehicle crash left one driver dead and spilled gallons of diesel fuel onto the road early Wednesday afternoon, closing a portion of Route 4 in Chichester and diverting traffic through the evening commute.
The fatal accident occurred when the driver of a car collided nose to nose with a commercial truck, according to Chichester police Chief Patrick Clarke, the officer in charge at the scene. All three vehicles had New Hampshire plates, Clarke said.
The crash involved the three drivers and two passengers. The driver who was killed was the only person in that vehicle, Clarke said.
Police believe they know the identity of the person who was killed, but were not immediately releasing the identity, Clarke said.
The accident also left fuel pouring into the road, prompting a call to the Department of Environmental Services for cleanup.
“There’s about 100 gallons of diesel fuel that’s spilled, so DES is on scene. Once we’re done processing the scene, they’re going to have to get involved,” Clarke said.
On Wednesday, authorities closed the portion of Route 4 at Mason Road across from the Healthy Buffalo butcher shop and diverted traffic onto Bailey Road.
Police responded to the report of the fatal head-on collision between a commercial vehicle and small sedan around 2:40 p.m., and police remained on the scene for hours afterward.
The Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office and Pembroke police were assisting with traffic management, Clarke said.