Faulty Wheel Bearing May Have Led to Fatal NH Crash

State Police investigators believe a faulty bearing caused the wheel on a tractor-trailer to fall off on a New Hampshire highway, leading to a fatal crash on Wednesday.  The truck was hauling a modular home for Crawford Homes based in Houlton, Maine.

According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, the accident happened on I-93 just outside Manchester during the morning rush hour.  Police said the wheel spun off the rig, struck the front of an unmarked cruiser driven by the head of the New Hampshire state police and then bounced over a jersey barrier and struck an SUV.  The driver of the SUV, 40-year-old Kelly Anderson-Baker of Concord, was killed instantly.

State Police Lt. John Begin said the lug nuts were still attached to the wheel, which leads them to believe that it was a wheel hub assembly failure. The investigation will continue until that can be determined.

51-year-old Alan Condon of Oakfield, Maine was driving the rig and was traveling with an escort car. According to investigators, Condon stopped to pay a toll further down the interstate. He and the driver of the escort car are said to have pulled over to the side of the road a short distance from the toll booth, before continuing on their way to Maine.

Maine State Police located the truck a few hours later at a rest stop off I-95 in Newport.

On Thursday, New Hampshire state troopers came to Maine to arrange for the 10-wheel trailer to be transported to Concord to be thoroughly inspected.

It could take up to 90 days for the inspection report to be completed and submitted to the County Attorney’s Office, who will determine whether criminal charges will be brought.

Source: New Hampshire Union Leader