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HAVERHILL, Essex County, Mass., Oct. 2, 2026 — Two people were taken to a hospital after a rollover crash Thursday afternoon, October 1, near 426 Lowell Ave. in Haverhill, officials said. One vehicle came to rest on its side, and a second vehicle was reportedly leaking fluid at the scene.
Haverhill Fire reported the rollover call around 4:50 p.m. PrideStar EMS crews arrived within minutes and said there was no entrapment, according to radio traffic. Paramedics requested a second ambulance soon after arriving, suggesting more than one person needed treatment.
Haverhill Fire reached the scene shortly before 5 p.m. to assist with the response. By 5:20 p.m., PrideStar EMS had transported two patients to Merrimack Valley Hospital in Lawrence. The extent of their injuries has not been released.
The cause of the rollover remains under investigation. Authorities have not said how many vehicles were involved beyond the two noted at the scene, and no further details on the crash sequence have been made public.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
What Makes a Rollover Crash So Hard to Walk Away From
A rollover is less about how fast a vehicle was going and more about what happens to its balance once it starts to tip. A tall, narrow vehicle has a higher center of gravity, so when it turns sharply, drops a wheel off pavement, or gets struck at an angle, the weight above the wheels can swing the vehicle past the point where it rights itself. Once that happens, the roof and side pillars, structures built mainly to hold their shape, absorb an impact they were not primarily designed for.
Closing speed and the weight of the vehicle both factor into how many times a vehicle rolls and how hard each impact is. A vehicle that tips at a parking-lot speed may rock onto its side once. One that leaves the road at highway speed can roll multiple times, and each rotation adds another jolt. Seat belts and side curtain airbags are built to keep occupants positioned inside the vehicle during that motion, but they cannot stop the vehicle itself from rolling.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 24 percent of fatally injured occupants in crashes classified as other, which were mostly rollovers, were belted in 2023. That figure reflects how much the outcome of a rollover depends on factors beyond restraint use alone, including vehicle design and how the crash unfolds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which vehicles are most prone to rollovers?
Taller, narrower vehicles such as SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans have a higher center of gravity than sedans, which makes them more likely to tip during sharp maneuvers or when a tire catches an edge or obstacle.
How does seat belt use affect survival in a rollover?
Seat belts keep occupants inside the vehicle and away from the roof and windows during the roll. Being partially or fully ejected is one of the biggest risk factors in rollover crashes.
What is a "tripped" rollover?
Most rollovers are "tripped," meaning a tire hits a curb, soft shoulder, guardrail, or another object that stops the wheel suddenly while the rest of the vehicle keeps moving, causing it to tip. This differs from "untripped" rollovers, which happen on open pavement during sharp steering or evasive maneuvers, mostly in taller vehicles.
What to Do After a Rollover Crash in Haverhill, MA
If you're involved in a rollover, try to stay still for a moment and check for pain or injury before moving. If the vehicle is on its side or roof and it's safe to do so, unbuckle carefully and brace yourself before you drop. You should call 911 even if injuries seem minor, since rollover crashes can cause injuries that aren't obvious right away.
Once you're checked out by paramedics or a doctor, make sure to keep a record of what you're told and any symptoms that show up in the following days, such as stiffness, headaches, or dizziness. Getting a prompt medical evaluation matters both for your health and for documenting the crash accurately. If a police report was filed, request a copy for your records once it's available.
