Photo by State Police The section of guardrail that impaled a sedan then caused several other vehicles to crash is shown sticking out of the windshield of this vehicle. (Photo by State Police)

MERRIMACK — A multi-vehicle crash as harrowing as it was bizarre for one of the several motorists ended up significantly damaging all the vehicles but sparing their occupants serious injury.

A 2012 Chrysler 300 4-door sedan appears to have borne the brunt of the damage, mainly due to an 8-foot section of the “monorail” style guardrail dividing the northbound and southbound lanes of the Everett Turnpike dislodged upon impact and impaled the car from front to rear.

According to state police, the driver, Jonathan Gouveia, 43, of Loudon, was traveling north near mile marker 8.8 when another “unknown vehicle” moved into his lane of travel, causing Gouveia to lose control of the car, which then struck the guardrail on the right side of the road.

The impact redirected the vehicle, sending it across the road and into the center median, where police said it struck and dislodged the section of monorail.

Meanwhile, another, longer section of monorail measuring around 12 feet in length came loose and dislodged. The segment rocketed into the southbound lanes and into the path of five vehicles, whose drivers, police said, were unable to avoid colliding with it.

All five vehicles were rendered disabled, police said.

Gouveia, police added, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. None of the other drivers were injured, police said.

The crashes forced the closure of both the northbound and southbound lanes for more than two hours, while state DOT crews worked to repair the guardrails.

The incident remains under investigation, police said, adding that they ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact Trooper Jacob Winslow at jacob.a.winslow@dos.nh.gov or 223-4381.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.