EXETER - An Exeter woman was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon when she was struck by a 16-year-old driver from Plaistow while walking along the side of Portsmouth Avenue.

Police Capt. Bill Shupe said the 66-year-old woman was walking south on the sidewalk toward the downtown area, near Gary Blake Motorcars at 58 Portsmouth Ave., when she was hit around 3:15 p.m.

The teen was driving a Hyundai Sonata north on Portsmouth Avenue when he suddenly crossed over to the opposite side of the street and hit the woman.

The woman was transported to Exeter Hospital. The extent of her injuries wasn't known, but police described them as serious.

"They did not appear life-threatening based on the fact that she was conscious and alert and answering questions. It did appear that there was a head laceration," Shupe said.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Police will be investigating whether the teenager was distracted at the time, but Shupe said that at this point there is no evidence that he was texting, speeding, or impaired by alcohol or drugs.

The names of the driver and the woman were not available from police Tuesday night.

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