Five injured, two seriously, in 5-car wrong-way crash in Nashua

Scene of last night's wrong-way crash on the F.E. Everett Turnpike (NHSP photo)

NASHUA - A wrong-way driver on the F.E. Everett Turnpike collided with multiple vehicles late Saturday night.

New Hampshire State Troopers got involved around 10:35 p.m. when they received a report of a wrong-way driver headed north in the southbound lanes of the turnpike.

Soon after they learned the wrong-way vehicle had struck another vehicle in the area of Exit 7W. Upon arrival, it was found that the wrong-way vehicle's operator was entrapped, and the Subaru Impreza had caught fire. Troopers were able to quickly extricate the driver who was identified as Jennifer Pratka, 29, of Litchfield.

A preliminary investigation found that the Subaru was driving north on the F.E. Everett Turnpike in the southbound lanes when it collided with a pickup truck in the left lane, which led to three other vehicles crashing into the two vehicles that had collides moments before.

The driver and the passenger of the pickup truck sustained serious injuries, and the occupants of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries.

Pratka was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua for minor injuries. She is scheduled to appear in Hillsborough Superior Court in July to face charges of aggravated DUI and reckless conduct.

The F.E. Everett Turnpike southbound lanes were shut down between Exits 7W and 7E for around three and a half hours while the crash was being investigated, the vehicles removed and debris cleaned from the roadway. New Hampshire State Police were assisted on scene by Nashua Police, Nashua Fire and EMS, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trooper Harkonen at Ryan.R.Harknoen@dos.nh.gov or (603) 223-8308.