Rochester man escapes injury in spectacular early morning Rochester tolls crash

Scene of early morning crash at the Rochester tolls. (State Police photos)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester man miraculously escaped injury early today when he fell asleep driving a pickup truck north on the Spaulding Turnpike, struck a concrete abutment as he approached the Rochester tolls and went airborne crashing into a toll both.

State Police responded to the scene around 3:50 a.m. and learned that Austin Koontz, 39, who was driving a 2006 Toyota Tundra, had fallen asleep and loss control of his pickup prior to the crash.

After crashing into the unoccupied toll both the vehicle came to a final rest just north of the toll plaza. Koontz was not injured in the accident.

The Rochester toll plaza remained open to only one travel lane northbound for approximately eight hours while personnel from NHDOT Bureau of Turnpikes replaced the toll booth and equipment.

Troopers from New Hampshire State Police Troop-A were assisted at the scene by the Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire and EMS, NH Department of Transportation and Doug's Towing.

Anyone with information pertaining to this crash is asked to contact Trooper Matthew Bailey of the New Hampshire State Police, Troop-A Barracks at (603)223-8490 or Matthew.Bailey@dos.nh.gov.