On a late summer evening, as families across New England savored the final moments of Labor Day weekend, a catastrophic crash on Interstate 95 in North Hampton, New Hampshire, turned celebration into chaos. A wrong-way driver sparked a multi-vehicle collision that left six people hospitalized, four with serious injuries, and shut down the highway for hours. The wreckage, including a pickup truck flung into the woods, tells a story of sudden violence and a community grappling with the aftermath of a preventable tragedy.
A Violent Collision Shuts Down I-95
On Sunday, August 31, 2025, at around 5:10 p.m., the North Hampton Fire Department responded to a harrowing scene on I-95 southbound near mile marker 7.6. A multi-vehicle crash involving three vehicles had just occurred, triggered by a car traveling northbound that crossed the median and struck a southbound pickup truck, sending it crashing into the woods. The impact was so severe that two people were trapped inside their vehicles, requiring first responders to extricate them. Photos shared by the fire department showed a silver pickup truck on its side in the trees, its frame mangled, and a badly damaged car stranded on the highway.
The collision brought I-95 southbound to a standstill, with New Hampshire State Police issuing a traffic alert at 5:17 p.m., urging drivers to avoid the area and expect delays. The highway closure lasted for hours as emergency crews worked to clear the scene and investigators began piecing together the chain of events that led to the devastating crash.
A Toll of Injuries and Trauma
Six people were rushed to area hospitals, with ambulances from multiple nearby towns converging to assist. Four individuals, including a youth, suffered serious injuries, while two others sustained less severe wounds. Among the most critically injured were Taylor Gomes, 23, of Seabrook, New Hampshire, and an adult passenger in her vehicle, both with life-threatening conditions. A youth in Gomes’ car also faced serious injuries, while another driver, Ryan Herbert, was hospitalized with significant but non-life-threatening wounds. Remarkably, one individual, John Crudale, emerged unharmed.
The human cost of the crash reverberated through the community, with first responders describing a chaotic scene. The North Hampton Fire Department noted the complexity of the rescue, as they worked to free those trapped while providing immediate medical care. The sight of a pickup truck lodged in the woods underscored the violence of the collision, leaving onlookers and responders shaken.
The Wrong-Way Driver’s Fatal Error
Preliminary investigations point to a chilling cause: a vehicle traveling northbound veered across the median into oncoming southbound traffic. The reasons remain under scrutiny, with authorities yet to release details on whether impairment, distraction, or another factor played a role. New Hampshire State Police are leading the investigation, combing through evidence to understand how a driver could make such a deadly mistake on a major highway.
The crash’s dynamics suggest a high-speed impact, given the extent of the damage and the pickup’s trajectory into the woods. Such wrong-way incidents, though rare, are among the deadliest types of collisions, often leaving little time for victims to react. As investigators dig deeper, the focus is on piecing together the driver’s actions and whether systemic issues, like road design or signage, contributed to the tragedy.
A Community’s Response and Road Closure
The crash disrupted more than just traffic; it struck at the heart of North Hampton, a small town unaccustomed to such high-profile incidents. Local fire and police departments, supported by neighboring agencies, worked tirelessly to manage the scene, their coordinated efforts a testament to the region’s tight-knit emergency response network. The highway closure forced drivers to detour, snarling Labor Day weekend travel and prompting frustration, but the gravity of the situation overshadowed inconvenience.
Residents expressed shock on social media, with many offering prayers for the victims and gratitude for the first responders. The image of a pickup truck overturned in the woods became a stark symbol of the crash’s severity, circulating widely and amplifying calls for road safety. For a community enjoying the last days of summer, the incident was a sobering reminder of life’s fragility.
Questions of Prevention and Recovery
As the investigation continues, broader questions loom. Could better barriers or warning systems have prevented the wrong-way driver from crossing the median? Are there lessons from this crash that could save lives on I-95 and beyond? New Hampshire State Police are expected to release more details as forensic evidence, including ballistic and blood analysis, is processed. The findings could shape future safety measures, from enhanced road designs to stricter enforcement.
For the victims, the road to recovery will be long. The four seriously injured face uncertain futures, with families rallying around them. Gomes and her passenger, in particular, remain in critical condition, their loved ones holding vigil. The youth injured in the crash adds a heartbreaking layer, underscoring the indiscriminate toll of such accidents. As North Hampton and the broader New England community reflect, the hope is that this tragedy sparks action to prevent another, while offering support to those now bearing its scars.
