A 22-year-old Laconia man has been identified by police and issued a summons in connection with a crash that injured a highway construction worker on Interstate 95 in Pittsfield earlier this month. Authorities say the driver continued north after the collision instead of stopping at the work zone.
Police identified the driver as Jonathan McDonald. Investigators say he was operating a pickup truck pulling a black dump trailer when the rig struck a concrete barrier in the northbound construction area. The impact sent a construction barrel into Richard Smart, 56, of Westfield, who was working nearby.
Worker hospitalized after impact
Smart was taken to Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening. He has since been released, according to the information provided by police.
The crash occurred at 8:17 a.m. near mile marker 150. The location was an active construction zone, where traffic was moving beside barriers, equipment and workers. Police say the collision began when McDonald's truck and trailer hit the concrete divider, creating a chain reaction that sent the barrel toward Smart.
Investigators say McDonald did not stop after the crash. Leaving the area after a collision involving an injured person is the central allegation in the case. The summons formally brings the charges forward, but it does not establish guilt. McDonald will be entitled to the same legal protections as any defendant, including the presumption of innocence.
Charges listed by police
Police issued McDonald a summons on three counts. The allegations cover leaving the scene, driving conduct and the reporting requirements connected to the collision.
| Count | Charge | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| I | Accident involving death or personal injury | Class D |
| II | Driving to endanger | Class E |
| III | Accident report violation | Class E |
The charge classifications were included in the police information. No court date, plea or attorney information was provided in the source material. Those details would determine the next publicly documented stage of the case.
What police say happened
The account released by authorities describes a short sequence with significant consequences: the pickup and dump trailer struck the Jersey barrier, the impact displaced a construction barrel, and that barrel hit Smart. Police then say the driver continued traveling without stopping to check on the worker or report the crash.
The available information does not say how fast the truck was traveling, why it left the roadway or whether investigators believe mechanical failure, distraction or another factor contributed to the initial collision. It also does not identify the agency leading the investigation. Those unanswered questions remain important to the eventual prosecution and to any broader review of safety at the work site.
Construction-zone safety remains at issue
Work zones leave highway employees exposed to traffic that is separated from them by barriers, barrels and other temporary controls. In this case, police say one of those controls became part of the impact and struck a worker. The incident underscores how a crash involving a vehicle can quickly affect people who are not inside the vehicle.
For drivers traveling through an active work area, the facts released in this case point to the obligations investigators are examining:
- Maintain control while passing through narrowed or shifted lanes.
- Stay clear of concrete barriers, barrels and other work-zone equipment.
- Stop and report a collision when a person may be injured.
- Follow police instructions and remain at the scene unless leaving is necessary for emergency care or directed by authorities.
Those points do not add allegations to McDonald's case, but they explain why the charges include both driving to endanger and violations related to reporting an accident. The summons indicates that police are pursuing the case through the criminal process rather than treating the incident solely as a property-damage crash.
Smart's release from the hospital provides the latest known update on his condition, but the source does not describe the extent of his injuries or whether he has returned to work. The case remains focused on the alleged conduct after the barrier collision, with the next developments expected to come through court records or statements from investigators.
