HOLLIS, NH — Police have identified the man killed in a pedestrian crash on Route 111 as John Dunleavy, 84, of Hollis. Hollis police said he died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle while trying to cross the roadway.
Officers and firefighters were called to the scene at about 3:45 p.m. When first responders arrived, bystanders were already performing CPR. Emergency crews continued life-saving efforts, but Dunleavy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said the collision happened on a stretch of road near the Pepperell, Massachusetts, town line. Investigators are still piecing together exactly how the crash unfolded.
Police say Dunleavy was struck while crossing Route 111
According to Hollis Police Chief Brendan LaFlamme, the preliminary investigation shows Dunleavy was attempting to cross Route 111 when he was hit by a vehicle traveling toward the Massachusetts border. Police have not released additional details about what led up to the impact.
The crash happened in the late afternoon, a time when traffic can be steady along the corridor connecting southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Investigators said the man was on foot when the vehicle struck him, causing fatal injuries.
LaFlamme said the case remains in its early stages, which means investigators are still reviewing witness accounts, scene evidence and the vehicle’s path before reaching any conclusions.
Driver stopped immediately and is cooperating with investigators
Police said the driver pulled over right away after the collision and stayed at the scene to help. Chief LaFlamme said the motorist is cooperating with investigators as they continue their review of the incident.
The vehicle involved had Massachusetts license plates and suffered heavy front-end damage, including a detached bumper, according to police. That damage is part of the physical evidence investigators are examining as they reconstruct the crash.
Officials have not said whether speed, visibility or any other factor may have played a role. At this point, police are treating the driver’s cooperation as one of the pieces of information they are using to understand what happened.
Route 111 closed for hours after emergency crews responded
Route 111 was shut down for several hours while authorities processed the scene and cleared the roadway. The closure affected traffic near the state line and forced motorists to find alternate routes through the area.
New Hampshire Department of Transportation Division 5 crews assisted by posting signs to warn drivers. Pepperell police also helped manage detours near the border, reflecting how the crash affected traffic on both sides of the state line.
The extended closure allowed investigators to document the scene carefully before reopening the road. It also gave first responders and transportation crews time to address the immediate hazards created by the wreck.
Bystanders tried CPR before first responders arrived
When police and fire crews got to the scene, bystanders were already trying to help Dunleavy by performing CPR. Their efforts continued until emergency personnel took over at the crash site.
Authorities did not say how many people stopped to assist, but the immediate response shows how quickly nearby residents and motorists reacted once the collision occurred. Despite those efforts, Dunleavy could not be revived.
Police have not released information about whether any other injuries were reported. For now, the focus remains on the fatal impact and the steps taken in the minutes that followed.
Investigators ask witnesses to contact Hollis police
Hollis police are asking anyone who saw the crash or has information about it to contact the department at 603-465-7637. Witness statements could help investigators confirm the sequence of events on Route 111.
LaFlamme said the investigation is still developing, so officials are still working to establish the facts surrounding the collision. That includes understanding where Dunleavy was crossing and how the approaching vehicle reached the impact point.
For now, the crash stands as a deadly reminder of the risks pedestrians face on busy roads, especially near busy border crossings where traffic can move quickly and visibility may change from one stretch to the next.
