Townsend PD Sgt., wife identified as victims in NH fatal wrong-way crash

EPPING, N.H. — A veteran Townsend, Massachusetts police sergeant and his wife died at the scene of a violent crash with a wrong-way driver on Route 101 Thursday night.

New Hampshire State Police said calls came in about a wrong-way driver on Route 101 westbound, near exit 7, and troopers found a crash involving three vehicles around 11:41 p.m.

Police said two people in one of the vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene. Heidi Johnson, 57, and  Sgt. John Johnson, 58, both of New Ipswich, were traveling in the right lane of Route. 101 westbound in a 2008 Chevrolet Impala when they were hit by a Dodge 1500 truck driven by Ryan Kittredge, 31, of Derry, who was driving the wrong way.

Sgt. Johnson has served the Townsend, Mass. police department since December 1985. In a Facebook post, the department expressed their condolences to the family and asked people to keep the Johnson family in their thoughts.

Kittredge made a U-turn onto Route. 101 westbound near exit 7 and was driving east, according to a NHSP news release, when he crashed into the Impala.

Another driver from Raymond collided with the crashed vehicles just after the incident due to the darkness and vehicles blocking the roadway, police said. That driver's injuries were not life-threatening and he was transported to Exeter Hospital.

Police said Kittredge was airlifted to a Boston hospital with serious injuries. His current condition is unknown.

Route 101 was closed for several hours as officials investigated. Police have not said if charges will be filed.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or who has information to contact Trooper Daniel Quartulli of the NHSP CAR Unit at 603-223-8993 or at daniel.quartulli@dos.nh.gov.

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