A driver was killed Monday night on Cathedral Road in Rindge after losing control while attempting to pass another car and crashing into a telephone pole, according to police.
The driver has been identified as Aimee Lapointe, 43, of Jaffrey. Investigation into the crash is ongoing, but speed, erratic operation and driver intoxication are suspected to be factors, according to police. Toxicology results on Lapointe are still pending.
At approximately 8:04 p.m. on Monday, the Rindge police and fire departments responded to Cathedral Road near the Shaw Hill Road intersection after multiple people called 911 to report a crash, according to a press release issued by the Rindge Police Department. When police arrived, they located a 1998 Pontiac Firebird off the road and in the tree line on the southbound side of the road.
Lapointe had been ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. An initial investigation indicates she was killed upon the initial impact of the vehicle.
Witnesses reported to police that the Firebird was passing another vehicle and lost control while traveling north at a high rate of speed, police said. The vehicle spun, traveling across the road, and the driver’s side of the vehicle struck a telephone pole. The force of the impact shattered the telephone pole and wires fell across the road. The vehicle rolled onto its roof, sliding back across the road before flipping back onto its wheels and settling over the embankment on the southbound side.
Police do not know at what point in the crash Lapointe was ejected. She was found on the ground near the vehicle’s passenger side. Lapointe was the only occupant of the vehicle. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team helicopter was initially requested to respond, but the call was canceled after Lapointewas pronounced dead.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation assisted with road closure, and Eversource was called on to repair the damaged pole and wires. Cathedral Road was closed for about eight hours following the crash while the pole was repaired, but was back open to normal travel Tuesday morning. The vehicle was towed from the scene by Gauthier’s Auto Services of Jaffrey to Cliff’s Auto Body & Repair, also of Jaffrey.
Rindge Police, Rindge Fire and Rindge Rescue were assisted on scene by Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance, Jaffrey Fire, Jaffrey Rescue, Jaffrey Police, New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire DOT and Eversource. Fitzwilliam Police assisted with making notification to Lapointe’s next of kin.
Police are investigating the crash. Witnesses with any additional information are asked to contact Officer Ryan Aro at 603-899-5009 or 603-355-2000.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.