SALEM — Rush hour traffic was stalled Friday morning when at least six vehicles were involved in multiple accidents in the area of the 3.8 mile marker of Interstate 93.
While first responders were dealing with two rollover accidents on the northbound side, several vehicles on the southbound side collided and one rolled over, according to authorities.
Maj. John Encarnacao with New Hampshire State Police said he is aware of at least three vehicles that were involved in rear-end accidents on the southbound side, plus a Buick SUV that rolled over.
The causes of the accidents are still unknown, he said, but inclement weather, speed, following too close and driver inattention are likely factors.
“They’re still under investigation,” Encarnacao said.
While he could not yet say if the southbound accidents started with drivers distracted by the northbound accident, he said such incidents are not uncommon and he would not be surprised if that was a factor here.
Salem Fire Department Battalion Chief Randall Young responded to the initial accidents on the northbound side, along with Windham Fire Chief Tom McPherson.
Young said the call came in for the the first two vehicles — a red sedan and a black Mazda SUV resting on its roof — at 7:41 a.m.
“Both cars rolled over multiple times,” Young said.
Drivers suffered minor injuries and were transported by a Salem ambulance and a Windham ambulance respectively to Parkland Medical Center in Derry. While fire crews were responding to that crash, they witnessed multiple accidents on the southbound side.
“We all looked over and actually noticed the rear-end accidents,” Young said.
Young said he called in the additional accidents at 8:13 a.m.
Young estimated about six or seven vehicles were involved in the fender-bender accidents. Another vehicle appearing to swerve right to avoid the pileup clipped the guardrail and rolled over, Young said.
An adult female driver was transported to Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., for minor injuries, he said.
Many of the accidents resulted in minor damage, but Young said about eight vehicles were towed on both sides. Encarnacao could not confirm more than six vehicles were involved overall.
The affected section of highway was reduced to one lane of traffic on both sides for about half an hour, Young said, while first responders worked to remove vehicles and transport patients.
