Fiery crash leads to hundreds of rounds of bullets exploding, one arrest`

Scene of Saturday crash on I-93 in Bow (NHSP photo)

BOW - A State Police investigation continues today into a fiery car crash in Bow that resulted in hundreds of rounds of ammunition inside the vehicle exploding forcing the shutdown of all lanes on Interstate 93.

The two-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 3 p.m. in the northbound lanes near mile marker 32.2.

Police were called to the scene after receiving reports that a vehicle operating erratically had crashed into the center median Jersey Barrier before crossing back across all lanes of traffic and striking another vehicle, according to a Dept. of Safety press release sent Saturday night. The vehicle thencontinued into the woods where it struck several trees and caught fire.

Police say the three occupants were able to escape from the vehicle, and one was transported to a hospital with significant, but non-life-threatening injuries. There were no injuries to the occupant of the other vehicle that was struck.

All northbound lanes of I-93 were shut down as the fire spread and soon after the southbound lanes were also shut down as several hundred rounds of ammunition in the vehicle started exploding.

Fire crews arrived on scene shortly afterward and were able to contain the fire at which time the southbound lanes were reopened. The high-speed lane on the northbound side was reopened as well but the other two lanes remained shut down for a significant period of time.

The names of the vehicle occupants are being withheld pending further investigation. One of the occupants was arrested on several warrants and additional charges may be forthcoming pending the outcome of the investigation, safety officials said.

Multiple witnesses and Good Samaritans stopped to assist, and the public is asked to contact the State Police if you witnessed this incident or have dash cam footage of it and you were not already contacted. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Farmer at Joshua.A.Farmer@dos.nh.gov or at (603) 227-0038.