After Collision, Driver Continues to Operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle with Damage to Axles - Candia

On June 18, 2019 at approximately 12:22 p.m., the New Hampshire State Police received reports of a 2014 Freightliner operating eastbound along Route 101 in Candia with a damaged trailer. It was reported that the trailer appeared to be off center as it traveled along the roadway.

Trooper Tyler Dodds of Troop A was able to stop the vehicle and requested the assistance of Troopers assigned to Troop G so that an inspection of the vehicle could be performed. Members of Troop G are highly skilled Troopers who have received specialized training to conduct roadside inspections of commercial motor vehicles.

Trooper First Class Kenneth Phoenix responded to the scene and learned that the driver, Edward Garcia, age 29, of Pasadena, TX, had struck a guard rail in the area of Hillsborough, NH, which resulted in significant damage to the trailer. Two of the wheel rims on the trailer were bent which caused the tires to go flat. Additionally, the frame which the trailer's axels were mounted on was bent causing the sliding axle to become dislodged from the trailer frame. Although Garcia had the flat tires replaced, he continued to drive the vehicle, but the damage to the trailer's frame caused it to drive down the roadway at an offset angle.

As a result of TFC Phoenix's inspection, he placed the trailer out of service for the bent frame as well as for the defection axle positioning parts. Garcia was also placed out of service after Trooper Phoenix discovered that Garcia's Electronic Logging Device (ELD) had been falsified.

The New Hampshire State Police – Troop G were assisted by Troopers from the New Hampshire State Police – Troop A.