Wrong-Way Mass. Driver Crashes In Manchester, Shutting Down I-293

MANCHESTER, NH — New Hampshire State Police received reports of a vehicle traveling south in the Northbound lane of Interstate 293 on Thursday.

A short time after 9:30 p.m., a report of the wrong-way vehicle multiple accidents were called in.

When state troopers arrived, they found a Subaru facing south in the northbound travel lane with heavy front-end damage. Police identified the driver of the Subaru as Joseph Panish, 72, of Littleton, Massachusetts.

Troopers also located a 2003 Toyota Camry driven by a 29-year-old woman from Manchester, also with heavy front-end damage.

An on-scene investigation revealed the Subaru got onto I-293 at Exit 5, heading in the wrong direction, and subsequently crashed head-on into the Toyota, state police said.

Both operators were taken to local area hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries and their vehicles towed from the scene. All northbound traffic was closed down for a short period of time while the scene was cleared.

As a result of the crash, a third vehicle was driven by Manchester woman struck debris created by the crash which rendered her vehicle inoperable. There were no injuries as a result of this debris strike; however, her vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is encouraged to contact Tr. T. Whelan at the New Hampshire State Police – Troop B Barracks at 603-223-3849 or by email at Timothy.M.Whelan@dos.nh.gov.