WEARE - A local firefighter was injured after being struck by a car while directing traffic at the scene of an accident on Wednesday.

According to a statement from Weare Police Chief Gregory Begin, the chief and another officer responded to an accident at the intersection of Route 77 and Sugar Hill Road involving a jack-knifed tractor-trailer and an automobile.

An investigation of the incident revealed that Alita Phelps, 48, of 5 Smith Road in Andover, turned right out of Sugar Hill Road onto Route 77 and into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer. The truck, driven by Joseph Boyce, 30, of 1602 Route 25 in Orford hit the 2001 Dodge Neon being driven by Phelps, seriously damaging the rear end.

Phelps was transported to Concord Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

However, while the accident scene was being investigated, a second accident occurred. Weare firefighter Jeff Lewis, 31, of 17 Pleasant St. in Goffstown was assisting with traffic on the east side of the crash scene when he was struck by a 2001 Ford Focus. The Focus, driven by Alice Grenier, 91, of 373 South Sugar Hill Road in Weare, hit Lewis and caused non-life-threatening injuries. Lewis was also transported to Concord Hospital by Weare ambulance.

Grenier is facing two charges including vehicular assault and reckless operation. She is slated to appear in Goffstown Circuit Court for her arraignment on Jan. 24.

The cause of the initial accident is still under investigation and anyone with information is being asked to contact the Weare Police Department at 529-7755.



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