Police: Enfield man who died in Ossipee truck crash might have fallen asleep

By BEA LEWIS
Union Leader Correspondent
February 08. 2018 11:10AM

OSSIPEE - The Enfield man killed in a head-on crash on Route 16 Jan. 30, likely fell asleep at the wheel, police said.

Henry F. Doran III, 39, was heading south toward Route 28 in a Carroll Tire box truck when he crossed into the path of a tractor-trailer driven by Joseph Breen, 42, of Moultonborough.

Sgt. Robert King said officers from the state Department of Safety, Motor Carrier Enforcement Section found no evidence of mechanical defect as a contributing factor in the crash.

There also was no indication of driver impairment or excessive speed, he said.

“It seems to me there was some type of distraction, that he probably fell asleep,” he said.

Breen's Garland Lumber Company truck flipped onto its side as he tried to evade the oncoming truck, which spilled its load of woodchips onto the road. A section of the highway near the Pine River Road exit was closed for about 5½ hours while the debris was cleaned up and authorities investigated.

Doran was pronounced dead at the scene. Breen did not suffer serious physical injuries.

The crash occurred about 1:20 p.m. on a straight stretch of highway shortly after its transitions from a 55 mph to 50 mph zone.