Home » News » Public Safety
Fire truck, police cruiser damaged in separate accidents in Manchester
MANCHESTER - A fire truck and a police cruiser were involved in separate traffic accidents about three hours apart Saturday, authorities said.
The ladder truck could be out of service for up to two weeks after it collided with a car while returning from a call about 5:40 p.m., according to District Fire Chief Al Poulin.
Police Lt. Michael Hurley said he doesn't expect police to issue any citations.
"At this point, it looks like the driver of the fire truck is going to be found at fault," Hurley said.
The fire truck had just turned left from Harrington Avenue to go north on Calef Road when the crash occurred, he said, adding there is a stop sign on Harrington Street.
He said "weather did probably play a small role in the accident."
Meanwhile, a police cruiser with its emergency lights and siren activated collided with another vehicle at Beech and Bridge streets about 8:45 p.m., Hurley said.
Officer Michael Valenti was responding to an urgent call while heading south on Beech Street and collided with a 2003 Hyundai Accent driven by Joanne Lafleur, 63, of Weare, traveling west on Bridge Street. Lafleur was alone in her vehicle. Both drivers reported minor injuries. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.
It was snowing at the time of the collision, Hurley said.
No one was taken to the hospital in either accident.
Poulin said the fire truck, which is based at the Merrimack Street headquarters, turned on to Calef Road.
A woman driving a car south on Calef Road "came up over the crest of the hill, couldn't stop and slid into the truck," Poulin said. "It was snowing pretty intensely; the ground was slick."
The front of the car ended up under the bumper of the fire truck, he said.
The fire truck's bumper was dented on the driver side, and it might take one to two weeks to acquire and install a replacement, he said.
A ladder truck from the Mammoth Road station will replace the damaged truck. Poulin said the accident is not expected to affect response times.
- Amtrak suspends New York-Boston service after two trains collide in Conn.; up to 60 hurt - 0
- Two hurt in Epping crash involving bus, five other vehicles - 0
- New Boston man killed in fiery Mont Vernon crash - 0
- Man suffers serious burns in Plaistow house fire - 0
- Fire in Claremont Middle School of 'suspicious' origin - 0
- Construction of temporary bridge in Francestown set to start this month - 0
- Portsmouth plans sobriety checkpoints - 0
- Insurer seeks damages from 2010 gas explosion - 0
- Small fire at Claremont school investigated by police - 0
Ceremony for fallen police officers honors service and sacrifice
READER COMMENTS: 2- Teen hurt in Amherst boating crash - 0
- Portsmouth police DWI roadblock stops 179 motorists yielding 4 arrests - 0
- NHIAA Tennis: Bedford is championship-focused - 0
- John Habib's City Sports: Tourney time nears for JVs, too - 0
- NHIAA Scoreboard, May 17, 2013 - 0
- NHIAA Roundup: Hanover's Cravero hurls another no-hitter - 0
- Lawyer says Northern Pass in 'a corner' - 4
- Fisher Cats score in 9th to win - 0
- Sox edge Twins in 10, 3-2 - 0



