Rochester Police probe two crashes in less than 24 hours, both with serious injuries

ROCHESTER - Rochester Police today are investigating two accidents that involved life-threatening injuries that occurred in less than 24 hours, including one in which a 21-year-old Barrington motorcyclist was injured on Sunday morning.

The most recent mishap unfolded today around 8:25 a.m. as emergency crews responded to the area of Salmon Falls Road and Highland Street for a vehicle that had left the roadway and stuck a utility pole.

An injured and unconscious motorist was taken from a Buick Lacrosse and transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with a life-threatening condition.

Though it is early in the investigation, police believe the operator may have experienced a medical episode prior to the accident.

The crash snarled morning traffic, but the roadway was completely reopened as of 9:15 a.m.

The accident on Sunday occurred around 9:40 a.m. in the area of Washington Street and Estes Road when police say a car and motorcycle collided.

When emergency crews arrived on scene they found a heavily damaged motorcycle and car in the middle of the intersection with the motorcycle rider lying on the ground with obvious injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates the motorcycle, a 2016 Harley Davidson Touring motorcycle, operated by Joseph Ford, 21, of Barrington, was traveling west on Washington Street when it collided with a 2011 Ford Mustang, driven by Michael Selig, 61, of Hull, Mass., as the mustang was turning onto Washington Street from Estes Road.

Ford was taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with life threatening injuries, while Selig was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A passenger in the Mustang was not injured.

Washington Street between Chesley Hill and Dry Hill roads was shut down for about 3½ hours while the Strafford County Regional Technical Accident Reconstruction Team was called in to assist with the investigation.

Both crashes remain under investigation at this time.