Truck Flips on I-95 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Avoid Merging Teen Driver

A teen driver merging onto Interstate 95 in Portsmouth caused the driver of a tractor trailer to take "evasive action", leading to an overturn which blocked lanes in both directions Friday afternoon.

New Hampshire State Police said that a 16-year-old from Amesbury entering I-95 south from Exit 7 appeared to be heading into the path of a southbound Freightliner truck with a 30-foot trailer around 2 p.m. The driver of the truck, Luis Vasquez, 46, of Haverhill, steered the truck away from the Pilot and into a center dividing guardrail, causing the truck and trailer to overturn and land on both sides of the interstate.

No one in either vehicle was injured in the crash, according to the driver.

Major delays in two states

A section of Interstate 95 was closed for about five hours for cleanup and investigation. Route 1, the Route 1 Bypass, and other roads became heavy with traffic trying to avoid the closure.

No charges have been filed in the crash. 16-year-olds in Massachusetts may apply for a driver's permit, but cannot be issued a Junior Operator's License until they are 16 ½ and completed 40 hours of practice driving with a licensed driver age 21 and older.

Those with a junior operator's license are not permitted to drive with any passengers (except for immediate family members) until they are 18 for the first six months.

In New Hampshire, a teen can start learning to drive at the age of 15 ½ but must be at least 16 years old to apply for a driver's license. A Youth Operator License is issued to any person between 16 and 21. A holder of a Youth Operator License under age 18 may not have more than one passenger less than 25 years of age unless they are an immediate family member, or if they are accompanied by a licensed, responsible adult who is at least 25 years of age during the first six months.

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