Box truck driver could face assault charge for failing to clear snow, injuring motorist

Police in New Hampshire are warning drivers to remove all ice and snow from vehicles before they begin driving after a motorist suffered injuries after being struck by an “ice missile.”

Police in Londonderry, New Hampshire are currently looking for a box truck driver after a large chunk of ice reportedly fell off of his or her vehicle on Wednesday and injured a motorist. Police say that the box truck driver, if located, could be charged with Negligent Driving or Misdemeanor Assault.

From a news release from the Londonderry Police Department:

At 1:35 pm today, officers from the LPD and paramedics and firefighters from the LFD responded to Rte 102 in the area of Young Road for a reported motor vehicle crash with injury. Officers arrived on scene to find that a large chunk of ice and snow allegedly dislodged from a box truck traveling westbound on Rte 102 striking a Honda Accord traveling eastbound. The ice and snow shattered a portion of the Honda Accord’s driver’s side windshield and continued into the vehicle striking the 22 year old driver of Londonderry. The box truck driver continued on Rte 102 towards Hudson and was alerted to the crash by a witness who saw what had occurred. The box truck driver returned to the crash scene where he awaited law enforcement and first responders; he cooperated with officers after they arrived. The 22 year old driver was transported to a local hospital for serious but non life threatening injuries to his face and eye. Officers later learned that the 22 year old driver suffered lacerations to his face and allegedly had glass lodged in his eye, which will require additional surgeries to remove and repair. With his family’s permission, the below photos, which are graphic in nature, are shared herein to show the significant dangers that NOT cleaning your vehicle off of ice and snow poses to not just property, but the serious potential of injury or death to other drivers and their passengers. As we enter the winter and snow season, PLEASE CLEAN YOUR VEHICLES OF ICE AND SNOW!If you were in the area of Rte 102 and Young Road around 1:30 pm and may have witnessed this incident, please contact investigating officer Daniel Perry (603)432-1118. Once our investigation is complete, the other involved driver may potentially face a violation charge of Negligent Driving 265:79-b and/or a Class A Misdemeanor charge of Vehicular Assault. Media inquires may be directed to Captain Patrick Cheetham (603)432-1113 pcheetham@londonderrynhpd.org. A member of the New Hampshire State Police Troop G Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Unit also responded to assist with our investigation.

“Ice missiles” have been a hot button topic in the trucking industry for several years as many truck drivers do not have the access to the necessary tools to remove ice and snow — and climbing on a slippery trailer could be dangerous.