Car explodes on Route 101 causing brush fire and shutdown of westbound lanes

RAYMOND - A Jeep caught on fire and exploded on Route 101 in Raymond on Wednesday, causing a brush fire and shutdown of westbound traffic.

Police responded around 5:15 p.m. to Route 101 Westbound where they learned that a 2018 Jeep Wrangler driven by Robert Andrada, 43, of Londonderry, had begun to smoke prompting Andrada to pull over to the right shoulder and get out of the vehicle.

It caught on fire moments later, became fully engulfed and exploded causing a brush fire.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

As the incident was happening, multiple drivers illegally backed down the highway against the flow of traffic and took restricted access crossovers, clogging the roadway.

The incident resulted in a closure of all Route 101 westbound lanes for about an hour while emergency crews extinguished the fires.

The New Hampshire State Police would like to remind drivers to obey all traffic laws to help prevent further damage to property or injury.