Overnight crash on I-293 ramp claims life of Londonderry man; state police investigating
BEDFORD — The pickup truck involved in the single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a Londonderry man was discovered late Sunday morning, but investigators believe the crash happened sometime overnight, police said.
It was about 11 a.m. when a caller contacted state police headquarters after noticing the wreckage of the Dodge Ram truck lying at the base of an embankment along I-293 south at the off-ramp to Route 101 west.
State police identified the driver as Christopher M. Brooks, 47, a Londonderry resident who they said was the subject of a “Be On The Lookout,” or BOLO, bulletin issued Saturday evening for a missing person.
Arriving troopers immediately determined the driver, later identified as Brooks, was deceased, at which time they, with assistance from Bedford firefighters and EMS personnel, began a search of the area to make sure nobody else was involved in the crash.
Police said they believe the crash took place sometime overnight, based on the fact frost was present on the wrecked vehicle.
They determined that the pickup, a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500, had drifted off the roadway to the left and traveled down an embankment before striking a tree.
One lane of the nearby I-293 off-ramp, which is just behind the Bedford Whole Foods store, was closed as police investigated, but motorists were still able to make their way around the closure to access Route 101.
Police summoned the on-duty medical examiner to the scene, and the state Department of Transportation sent a crew to assist with traffic control as investigators worked the scene.
Police said that “all aspects of this crash remain under investigation.” They ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or has additional information, to contact state police Trooper First Class Francisco Vicente at Francisco.A.Vicente@dos.nh.gov or 223-8745.
–JEFFREY HASTINGS