7 Injured When Car Crashes Into Bedford Tolls, Catches Fire

A Massachusetts man and six children were injured when a car crashed into the Bedford tolls, rolled over and burst into flames shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday on the Everett Turnpike.

Around 5:45 p.m., New Hampshire State Police, Merrimack Police, Bedford Police and Bedford Fire responded to a report of a rollover crash on the Everett Turnpike south in the area of the Bedford Toll Plaza. The crash involved a single motor vehicle that crashed into the #5 EZPass lane, rolled over and then caught on fire.

State police said the preliminary investigation indicated that a male driver was traveling south on the Everett Turnpike approaching the #5 EZPass toll booth when for an unknown reason he drove straight into the concrete structure that divides lanes. After the vehicle struck the concrete structure it continued to travel through the toll booth, striking a second concrete structure. As the vehicle cleared the toll booth it rolled over and landed on its passenger side.

Upon coming to rest, the vehicle caught fire. Several bystanders assisted in pulling the occupants out of the vehicle and putting out the fire.

The driver was identified as David Sullivan, 52, of Sherburn, MA. There were six passengers in the vehicle, all children between the ages of 10 and 16. Sullivan and three of the children were transported to the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, while the other three other children were transported to Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. All of the occupants were transported as a precaution and sustained very minor if any injuries.

Sullivan is facing a charge of reckless driving and is scheduled to be arraigned on April 10 in Merrimack Circuit Court.

The vehicle, a gray 2007 Chevrolet Suburban, was destroyed in the crash and was towed from the scene. A section portion of lane #5 in the toll plaza sustained damage as a result of the crash.

Southbound traffic was restricted to three lanes of travel for approximately one hour while the vehicle was removed.

The crash is currently under investigation by Trooper Christopher Cummings at New Hampshire State Police Troop B in Bedford.