(State police photo) The wreckage of a pickup truck lies on its side off I-293 near the Manchester-Bedford line after the truck, which was towing a construction trailer, left the road early Wednesday morning. The driver, a Merrimack resident, suffered minor injuries and may be charged on motor vehicle offenses, police said.

MANCHESTER — Merrimack resident Matthew Worster was charged with operating a vehicle as a habitual offender early Wednesday morning, shortly after he lost control of his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado while traveling on I-293 south near the Manchester-Bedford line.

Worster was towing a utility trailer full of various construction equipment at the time of the crash, according to state police, who said troopers arrived at the scene to find the truck on its side, the trailer off into the woods, a downed tree and an “extensive debris field” consisting of tools and “thousands of nails” strewn about a wide area.

As troopers were pulling up to the scene, the tree that had been felled was struck by another motorist, police said.

Worster, 51, sustained minor injuries in the crash, but police didn’t say whether he was transported to a hospital.

They did say that a preliminary investigation determined that Worster is a habitual offender, which prohibits him from driving. He was subsequently taken into custody, police said.

Police ask anyone who may have additional information on the crash to contact Trooper Luan Sanches at Troop B headquarters at 271-3636.

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