01-05-2025
Hudson man, 19, charged with intentionally causing fatal Litchfield motorcycle crash
A Hudson man is facing manslaughter and other charges in connection with a fatal crash Wednesday night in Litchfield between a car and motorcycle that police allege was intentional.
John Burke, 19, is charged with manslaughter - reckless, negligent homicide, first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated DUI - serious bodily injury, reckless conduct - deadly weapon, witness tampering and vehicular assault.
Litchfield Police Chief Daniel Jones initially said Burke was being charged with second-degree murder, than a short time later sent an updated statement saying, the second-degree murder charge "is not being brought at this time."
Around 9:17 p.m., Litchfield police responded to a crash notification from Toyota Safety Connect and a 9-1-1 call reporting a motor vehicle accident on Route 102, between Cutler Road and Woodburn Road. Emergency responders from the Litchfield Fire Department, Hudson Ambulance, and Londonderry Fire Department were dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers found a Toyota Corolla and a Mitsubishi Outlander that police say were involved in a head-on collision. Nearby, a motorcycle was found in the wood line, and an adult male, wearing a helmet, was found unresponsive on the shoulder of the road.
The identity of the male, who was pronounced dead at the scene, has yet to be released pending notification of next-of-kin. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Thursday by the New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The driver of the Mitsubishi was treated for minor injuries at the scene and released. The driver of the Toyota, later identified as Burke, was transported to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and treated for minor injuries.
An investigation led by Litchfield police, and the New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit and the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit (CAR), determined the crash between the Toyota and the motorcycle was intentional, based on witness statements and physical evidence.
The later crash involving the Mitsubishi is not believed to have been intentional, police said, but happened as a result of Burke allegedly pursuing the motorcycle into the oncoming lane of traffic. Burke was allegedly driving under the influence at the time of the incident, Litchfield police said.
Burke is expected to be arraigned at Merrimack District Court on Thursday.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Litchfield Police Department at 603-424-3423.
