Another Taco Sacrifices For it's Owner

Sadly one person in another vehicle was killed.

Swanzey man killed in crash


A young girl tries to find comfort after a three-car accident on Route 9 in Keene on Monday.

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A number of others taken to hospital in Keene accident

By Sentinel Staff

Published: Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A Swanzey man died Monday after he drove his car into the path of another vehicle at Route 9 and Base Hill Road in Keene, according to police.

Patrick D. Smith, 78, of East Swanzey was taken to Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene, then to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, where he was pronounced dead, according to a news release from the Keene Police Department.

Smith was headed north on Base Hill Road in a 2001 Subaru Forester at about 3 p.m. when he drove into the path of a 2004 GMC Tahoe driven by Richard D. Clark, 34, of Townshend, Vt., according to police.

Clark’s vehicle, which was headed west on Route 9, hit Smith’s broadside, pushing it off the road, police said.

Clark’s car ricocheted into a Toyota truck stopped at a stop sign on Base Hill Road, according to police. That vehicle was driven by Richard Vesper, 61, of Vernon, Vt. Vesper and a passenger, Theresa Vesper, 53, were not hurt, according to the release.

Four passengers were in the Clark vehicle. They were: Kristine Mayotte, 30, of Putney, Vt., who suffered an ankle injury; Taylor Clark, 2, who suffered a neck injury; Patrick Clark, 7, who suffered a cut on his foot; and Gabriel Clark, 9, who wasn’t hurt.

Richard Clark suffered a cut hand, according to the release.

All the injured in the Clark car were treated at Cheshire Medical Center, according to the release.

The crash caused traffic to be diverted around the intersection for two hours.

N.H. State Police, Swanzey police, and the volunteer Keene Area Radio Emergency Squad assisted with traffic control.

The Keene police Collision Analysis Team is investigating, according to the release. Keene police Sgt. James A. Cemorelis said the team would be at the scene today.

Leslie Evans, a friend of Smith’s who answered the phone at his business, Patrick’s Pet Sitting Service, called Smith “one of the most kindhearted people I’ve ever known.”

She said Smith was active in the community, most notably in the arts and theater.

“He’s a delightful man and he will be sorely missed,” she said this morning.