Passenger dies in weekend crash in New London

Published: 10-07-2024 4:30 PM

Modified: 10-08-2024 4:22 PM


NEW LONDON — A passenger is dead and the driver seriously injured following an early morning crash Sunday in New London.

New London police and emergency personnel responded to a call at 12:50 a.m. of a report of a collision on Little Sunapee Road in New London, New Hampshire State Police reported in a news release on Sunday afternoon.

At the scene first responders determined that the car, a 2024 Hyundai Elantra, had been traveling southeast when the driver failed to negotiate a curve, went off the left side of the road, and struck a utility trailer parked on the side of the road before catching fire.

The driver of the car, identified as Vincent Mendillo, 27, of Mission Viejo, Calif., was seriously injured and transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment. A passenger, whose name is being withheld pending official identification by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash, police said.

New London and Sunapee police departments, as well as members of New London Hospital EMS and the New London Fire Department, all responded to the scene. The State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit investigated the crash, with the assistance of state troopers from Troop D barracks in Concord and members of the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Det. Sgt. Brian Ross at 603-223-8490 or Brian.J.Ross@dos.nh.gov.

Update: On Tuesday afternoon, New Hampshire State Police identified the deceased passenger as Salma Garcia, 26, of Mission Viejo, Calif.

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