RANDOLPH, N.H. – A tragic crash on a rural, two-lane highway in New Hampshire took the lives of at least seven motorcyclists and left three others injured Friday.
State police said a 2016 Dodge 2500 pickup truck collided with the motorcyclists on U.S. 2 in Randolph. Additional details will be released as authorities investigate the tragedy, Fox News reported.
Bystanders who witnessed the crash began scrambling for first aid kits and blankets in order to assist the injured strewn across the road. However, for at least seven of them it was too late as they died at the scene.
Two other people were transported to the Androscoggin Valley Hospital and one was airlifted to Maine Medical. It remained unclear what their current condition is.
The rural two-lane highway was closed throughout Friday evening to accommodate the collision reconstruction investigation.
A photo posted by WMUR-TV shows motorcycles and wreckage scattered across the road while a truck was in flames.
#Breaking News: WMUR has a crew on the way to the scene of this serious crash involving multiple motorcycles and a truck on Route 2 in Randolph. This story will be updated: https://t.co/boT1cuHmVk
?: u local/Miranda Thompson pic.twitter.com/kLOJwwb4aF
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) June 22, 2019
“There was debris everywhere,” Miranda Thompson, 21, of Manchester, told the Associated Press. She was several cars back and said she saw a truck in flames on the side of the highway and six motorcycles.
“People were in the grass. There were people putting tourniquets on people, trying to make sure they didn’t move,” she said. “You could tell people were lost who it happened too … It was a sad day for all of them.”
Gov. Chris Sununu tweeted his condolences, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, & first responders who answered the call.”
Valerie & I are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic motor accident that occurred in Randolph tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, & first responders who answered the call. State officials are on the scene & assisting as the situation develops.
— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) June 22, 2019
Jerry Hamanne, co-owner of a nearby bed-and-breakfast that was hosting one of the motorcyclists in the group, said he and a doctor also staying at his place rushed to the scene to help.
“It was so devastating to see the bodies on the road,” Hamanne said. “My God, I don’t want to see something like this again.”
Friends of the victims involved in last night’s deadly Randolph crash return to the scene to place American flags down in honor of the 7 who lost their lives. via @TimCalWMUR pic.twitter.com/pfRyORK0Qn
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) June 22, 2019
Charlie St. Clair, executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, which host one of the state’s biggest rallies in June, said this is the worst accident of this magnitude involving bikers in a long time in New Hampshire.
He said that he heard the bikers were Marine veterans who belonged to the same motorcycle club.
“This is staggering and it’s tragic beyond description,” St. Clair added. “You have a bunch of people out for a ride enjoying one of the first nice days we had. To have this happen, it defies logic quite frankly.”
