Maine man injured in Portsmouth tractor-trailer rollover

PORTSMOUTH - A Maine man was injured in a tractor-trailer rollover crash on an Interstate 95 on-ramp in Portsmouth.

The crash occurred around 8 a.m. on Thursday, involving a tractor-trailer truck along the on-ramp from the Portsmouth Traffic Circle to Interstate 95 northbound.

Preliminary investigation by police revealed that Dean A. Merritt, 54, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, had been driving a 2014 Peterbilt 388 truck towing a 2003 Heil Trailer, carrying concrete mixing dust, when he failed to negotiate a curve, causing the truck and trailer to cross the left shoulder of the on-ramp and overturn.

Merritt was assisted out of the truck by responding Troopers and transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was cited for a violation of negligent driving.

While Troopers investigated the scene and emergency personnel worked to remove the involved vehicle and clean up the debris, the on-ramp was closed for around four hours.

All aspects of the crash remain under further investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Jacob Benjamin at Jacob.A.Benjamin@DOS.NH.GOV.