SOMERSWORTH, NH — A rollover crash involving two vehicles knocked down a utility pole and caused a power outage on High Street on March 10, 2026.
The Somersworth Police and Fire Departments, along with Stewart’s ambulance service, were dispatched at approximately 5:28 p.m. to the area of High Street near Tri City Road.
Emergency personnel found two vehicles covered in live power lines due to a heavily damaged utility pole in the roadway.
A 2019 Ford Ranger pickup truck was on its side with extensive front-end damage and had a single occupant trapped inside.
Several witnesses and bystanders rendered aid to the male operator under dangerous conditions.
The occupant was extricated and transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with serious injuries.
An operator in the second vehicle, a 2017 Subaru Outback, was uninjured and removed from the vehicle that was covered in power lines.
All five lanes of the High Street corridor were closed for several hours while emergency crews worked to remove the two vehicles from the scene.
Eversource responded with dozens of crews and specialized equipment throughout the night and into the early morning hours to address the damaged pole and down lines.
The operator of the pickup truck was identified as Roger Smith, 72, of Somersworth.
Smith is cooperating with the investigation.
The Somersworth Police Department is investigating all aspects of the crash, and at this time alcohol does not appear to be a factor.
The southbound lane of travel continues to be down to one lane while repairs continue.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Somersworth Police Department at 603-692-3131, or leave an anonymous tip by phone at 603-692-9111 or online at https://www.somersworth.com/police/webforms/submit-tip.
