UPDATE: One Driver Identified in Serious Crash

UPDATE, 8 p.m.: The identity of the driver who was seriously injured in a crash on the F.E. Everett Turnpike this morning is being withheld pending proper notification of his family, State Police said in a press release this evening.

The man, who was ejected when his 1999 Isuzu Rodeo flipped over and landed on its roof, was taken by Boston Medflight to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with what authorities are calling life-threatening injuries.

According to State Police, they are investigating the accident as a road rage incident between the driver of the Rodeo and Gregory Clark, 56, of Northfield, who was driving a blue 2008 Chevy Aveo.

As a result of their alleged altercation, the two vehicles collided just north of Exit 11 on the southbound side of the highway. The southbound side of the highway had to be closed, and traffic diverted through Merrimack on the Daniel Webster Highway, for four hours while police investigated.

The highway was closed in both directions for 10 to 15 minutes shortly before noon to get a helicopter in and out of the scene. Further, traffic was tied up northbound for more than an hour as police diverted traffic stuck on the southbound side through a pass through and got them turned back heading north.

It is unclear if there will be any charges filed in this incident.

The incident is under investigation and anyone with any information is asked to call Trp.Kieran Fagan of Troop B at 603 223-4381.

UPDATE 2:40 p.m.: WMUR is reporting that road rage may be to blame for an accident that critically injured a man this morning when he was ejected from his car on the Everett Turnpike.

According to WMUR Channel 9, Capt. John LeLacheur said an altercation between drivers that began in the area of the Bedford tolls took a serious turn when two vehicles crashed just north of Exit 11 on the southbound side of the Turnpike.

"Witnesses say that they were both going back and forth, and we know that as they got down here into Merrimack there was a collision between the two vehicles," he said.

Those planning on traveling south on the Everett Turnpike from Bedford this afternoon should seek alternate routes after a serious accident has closed down traffic on both sides of the highway in Merrimack.

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.: One person was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center early Monday afternoon with life-threatening injuries after rolling his car on the Everett Turnpike just north of Exit 11 on the southbound side.

The middle-aged man ejected from his vehicle when it rolled. He landed off to the right side of the highway, while his car came to a rest in the breakdown lane, according to Rescue Capt. Brian Dubreuil. He was attended to at the scene by Merrimack Rescue while a Boston Medflight helicopter was en route to the accident.

The accident also involved a second vehicle that had two people in it. Dubreuil said when Merrimack Rescue was initially dispatched, it was alerted to the possibility of three patients, but upon arrival, they learned that the two people in the second car, a blue hatchback-style vehicle, were uninjured.

The accident shut the highway north of Exit 11 and police then shut both the north and southbound lanes for about 10 to 15 minutes to land the helicopter and take the patient, Dubreuil said.

"State Police has the highway closed at this point as they still continue to investigate the accident," Dubreuil said.

The southbound lanes remain closed and will remain so for about two hours, according to Nixle alerts from the Merrimack Police Department. Cars that are trapped between the Bedford tolls and Exit 11 are being turned around at a pass over between the southbound and northbound side, Dubreuil said.

That traffic is being diverted to Daniel Webster Highway at Exit 12, and police are advising local residents to seek other routes at this time as traffic is expected to be heavy from vehicles being forced off the turnpike north of the Bedford toll booth.

Merrimack Police, the State Highway Department and Merrimack Highway Department all assisted at the scene, in addition to State Police, Merrimack Rescue and Boston Medflight.

UPDATE, 1 p.m.: State Police are now turning traffic around north of Exit 12. The entire stretch of highway south is shut down, and it appears it could remain that way for some time.

According to emergency radio broadcasts, one person was ejected from the vehicle, suffering multiple system and head trauma. The person was taken by MedFlight helicopter to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston with what are believed to be life-threatening injuries.

An earlier story follows:

A motor vehicle rollover accident with injury has shut the Everett Turnpike at Exit 11, according to a Nixle alert from Merrimack Police.

A medical helicopter has been called to the scene to transport the victim.

The accident is on the south bound side of the highway. As there is no Exit 12 off ramp going south, motorist should get off the highway at the airport access road and travel down Daniel Webster Highway in order to avoid the area.

State Police issued a brief press release saying that the turnpike will be closed at Exit 11 southbound "for an extended period of time due to a motor vehicle accident with serious PI (personal injury)."

Merrimack Patch will have more information as it becomes available.