UPDATED: Three die in Milton head-on crash

MILTON - Three women, including one from Portsmouth, N.H., died Thursday night when the vehicles they were in collided head-on on Route 16 in Milton.

The crash occurred around 8:15 p.m. when State Police say it appears a Jeep Liberty was traveling southbound and crossed the center lane into the path of a Subaru Outback that was traveling northbound.

The operator of the Jeep, Victoria Rose, 57, of Revere, Mass., was pronounced dead at the scene, while the operator of the Subaru, Allison Smith, 31, Portsmouth, N.H., died later at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

A passenger in the Subaru, Vanessa Cox, 31, of Boston, sustained critical injuries and died later at Maine Medical in Portland, Maine. A second passenger in the Subaru sustained serious injuries but is stable.

A passenger in the Jeep sustained serious injuries but is stable, while a small dog in the Jeep had to be euthanized due to its injuries.

The New Hampshire State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene to assist, but at this time has not determined why the Jeep crossed the center line. The cause remains under investigation.

The roadway was closed for about four hours.

Milton Police and Fire Departments, the Farmington Police Department, the Rochester Police Department and the state Department of Transportation assisted at the scene.

Any witnesses are asked to contact State Police if they have any information regarding the crash.