Rochester woman, Milton man injured in head-on crash on Spaulding Connector

Rescue personnel work around a Toyota Tundra that rolled onto its side after a head-on crash on the Spaulding Connector on Tuesday. (Rochester NH Scanner Alerts photo)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester woman and an elderly Milton man were injured on Tuesday when their vehicles collided head-on near the DOT Maintenance Shed on the Spaulding Turnpike Connector.

Police responded a little after 12:15 p.m. and found both drivers entrapped in their vehicles: a Toyota Tundra on its side and a heavily damaged Hyundai Accent in the median.

The roadway was shut down while emergency personnel worked to extricate both drivers.

The Hyundai suffered severe front end damage (Rochester Police photo)

Preliminary investigation indicates the Toyota, operated by Robert Goossens, 92, of Milton, crossed over the median and started to travel in the opposite lane of travel when it struck the oncoming Hyundai, which was operated by Heather Garran, 34, of Rochester. Goossens was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital to be treated and Garran to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, both with what were described as non-life threatening injuries.

The accident is still under investigation, however neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors.