Jaw-dropping I-293 collision snarls rush-hour traffic

Scene of Friday's accident on I-293 in Manchester. (NHSP photo)

MANCHESTER - Two people were injured in a collision that left a tractor-trailer hanging off an overpass, closing a section of Interstate-293 for hours.

The crash occurred around 6:35 a.m. on Friday in the area of mile marker 6.4 on I-293 southbound in Manchester.

When troopers arrived on scene they found there'd been an accident involving a tractor-trailer and a compact car that left the tractor-trailer entangled with a guardrail and hanging over the side of the Granite Street overpass.

An investigation revealed that a 2007 Toyota Yaris driven by Abel San Agustin Tolentino, 33, of Manchester, made an unsafe lane change in the southbound lanes, forcing the driver of the tractor-trailer, Tyler Warner, 24, of Canaan, to take evasive action, according to a Dept. of Safety press release. After the two vehicles collided, the Toyota spun out and was facing northbound in the southbound lanes at which point Warner swerved to avoid hitting the Toyota a second time and subsequently lost control of the tractor-trailer, which came to rest on the overpass.

Both drivers were transported to Elliott Hospital for suspected minor injuries.

As a result of the crash all southbound lanes and the Exit 5 offramp were closed for around six hours. Traffic was detoured at the Amoskeag Rotary.

No charges have been filed at this time, however, all aspects of the crash remain under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Isaiah Acquaye at (603) 223-4381.