Seven Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash in Keene
KEENE, N.H. — Seven people were hospitalized following a multi-vehicle crash on Route 9 west at the Westmoreland town line Sunday morning.
Authorities said crews were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. for a head-on collision involving two vehicles and a motorcycle. One individual was trapped but all were conscious and breathing. A Level One Multi-Casualty Incident was declared to manage the scene.
The incident involved a van with two adults and four children, a motorcycle with one rider, and a Volkswagen with a single occupant. The Jaws of Life were employed to extricate at least one person, police reported.
Two patients were transported to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont, four to Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, and one by DHART helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. At least one individual sustained lower-extremity injuries.
Both passenger vehicles are considered total losses, and the condition of the motorcycle remains unclear. Traffic on Route 9 was disrupted for several hours as crews cleared the area.
Witnesses noted extensive delays, with one resident reporting significant backup on side roads due to the detour. Speed is believed to be a contributing factor, but the investigation is ongoing.