QUEEN, Manchester County, N.H., Sept. 24, 2026 — A crash involving at least seven vehicles and a box truck closed a stretch of I-293 North over the Merrimack River Wednesday morning, September 23, after the truck went through a guardrail and fell into the water, according to the Manchester Fire Department.
The crash was dispatched at about 7:40 a.m. on I-293 North, the fire department said. The box truck, described as about 30 feet long, broke through the bridge railing and dropped roughly 100 feet into the Merrimack River, landing upright in the water.
The driver was submerged briefly before climbing out through the truck's roof and windshield, both of which tore free in the fall, and made it onto the roof of the cab to await rescue. Bedford fire boats brought the driver to shore, where an ambulance was waiting. The department said the driver avoided serious injury.
Fire officials reported 11 people were treated at the scene and seven were taken to area hospitals. Manchester's ALS coordinator took initial command of patient care before handing off duties to dedicated medical and ambulance coordination teams. No injuries were reported among responding crews.
Once everyone was clear of the scene, crews turned to recovering the truck. Divers from Manchester and Bedford went out by boat to attach lifting straps to the vehicle, which was then hoisted back up to the bridge deck. The road was reported under control by about noon. The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, and a dollar estimate of the damage has not been determined.
We wish the injured a complete and speedy recovery.
Why Multi-Vehicle Crashes Involving Large Trucks Turn Severe So Quickly
Large trucks and box trucks take up more lane space and need more room to slow down than passenger cars, so when traffic stacks up fast, a truck following too closely or misjudging the gap ahead can end up pushing into the vehicles in front of it. In a chain-reaction crash, that same truck becomes the vehicle that keeps momentum going through several cars rather than the one that absorbs it.
Bridges and elevated roadways make the setting more risky. A guardrail built to redirect a passenger car is not necessarily built to stop the weight of a loaded box truck, so a truck that loses control near the edge of a span has a real chance of going through the barrier rather than being contained by it.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 528,177 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes in 2023. Morning commute hours, when traffic is dense and drivers are moving at higher speeds between slowdowns, are a common setting for the kind of pileup that starts with one vehicle and pulls in several more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does driver fatigue play a role in truck crashes?
It can. Long routes, early starts, and tight delivery schedules are known factors in truck-involved crashes, though fatigue is confirmed only when investigators establish it through hours-of-service records and interviews.
What should I do if I'm in a crash with a commercial truck?
Call 911, stay in a safe location away from traffic if possible, and seek medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor. Get the truck's company information and note the responding agency for your records.
Why do trucks need so much distance to stop?
Their weight and length mean truck brakes require more distance than a car's to bring the vehicle to a stop, especially when loaded, which is why sudden slowdowns ahead of a truck are so hazardous.
What makes truck crashes more dangerous than typical car crashes?
The size and weight difference between a truck and a passenger vehicle means more force is transferred to the smaller vehicle, and truck crashes are more likely to involve rollovers, underride, or, as in this case, a vehicle leaving the roadway entirely.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Truck Crash in Queen, NH
If you're involved in or witness a crash of this scale, move to a safe area if you're able and let first responders manage traffic and rescue operations. Even people who feel uninjured after a serious crash should get checked by a medical provider, since shock can mask pain from injuries like whiplash or internal bruising.
Keep records of any treatment you receive and follow up with your own doctor in the days after, since some injuries take time to show symptoms. If your vehicle was involved, get a copy of the official incident report from the responding department once it's available for your insurance and personal records.
