Two Route 12A Crashes in Cornish Send Two to DHMC
Two separate collisions on Route 12A in Cornish on December 18 sent two people to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and forced a temporary closure of the roadway. The incidents, which included a collision with a fuel tanker and a pedestrian struck near the Cornish Windsor Covered Bridge, prompted an extensive multi agency response and required offloading of thousands of gallons of fuel before the tanker could be moved.
On the afternoon of December 18, two separate traffic incidents on Route 12A in Cornish left two people injured and closed the road for emergency operations and cleanup. The first crash involved an SUV that struck the rear wheels of a northbound fuel tanker. The SUV driver was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with injuries described as non life threatening.
Shortly after the first collision, a different vehicle struck a pedestrian on or near the Cornish Windsor Covered Bridge. That pedestrian was also transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with injuries. New Hampshire State Police led investigations into both collisions.
Multiple local agencies responded to the scene, including Plainfield Police and Fire, Cornish Rescue and Fire, Windsor Fire Department, Golden Cross Ambulance and Montshire Towing. Crews had to offload and secure roughly 9,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel from the disabled tanker before it could be moved. That operation was a major factor in the roadway disruption and extended the period during which traffic was limited. Traffic was briefly reduced to one lane before crews implemented a full closure while emergency and cleanup operations were carried out. Photographer James M. Patterson captured images from the scene.
For local residents and commuters the incidents produced immediate effects on travel times and access. Drivers on Route 12A encountered delays and detours during the afternoon and evening response. Extended closures involving a fuel tanker raise additional concerns about public safety and environmental risk because of the volume of flammable material involved and the time required to transfer and secure it safely.
Beyond the immediate disruption, the events highlight pressure points for local emergency planning and road safety on a corridor used by heavy trucks, local traffic and pedestrians. Multi agency coordination is costly in time and resources, and accidents that require offloading large quantities of fuel can multiply those costs. New Hampshire State Police continued their investigations into both collisions, and no further details were released by December 22. Drivers should expect possible residual impacts as agencies review the incidents and any recovery work on the roadway.
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