HOPKINTON — Two drivers and a dog were injured following a three-car accident Friday on I-89, which state police say was caused in part by two dogs running free on the highway.

According to New Hampshire Troop D State Trooper Abbott Presby, a driver traveling along I-89 North, just after a slight bend in the road past Exit 5 in Hopkinton, at about 9:10 a.m. came across two dogs running on and across the highway. That driver, who was not identified by police, pulled over in the breakdown lane to try and coax the dogs off the roadway. Presby said the driver did not own or recognize the dogs and was simply trying to get them out of harm's way.

A second vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, then came around the bend, and the driver slowed after seeing the dogs and car pulled over.

A third vehicle, a Buick SUV, came behind the Jeep and was unable to slow in time, striking the Cherokee. That sent the Jeep across the road and into the Scion.

“I know one of the dogs was hit as well,” said Trooper Presby. “It was taken to a local veterinarian, but I'm not aware of its condition at this time.”

Presby said that the drivers of the second and third vehicles involved were transported and evaluated at Concord Hospital with what he termed minor injuries.

“We're trying to determine who owns the dogs,” said Presby.

“One of them took off after the accident, and hasn't been located yet.”

I-89 was briefly shut down while emergency personnel responded to the crash. Presby said that as of Friday afternoon, no citations or charges were issued in connection with the accident.
pfeely@unionleader.com