Fatal Vehicle Collision in New London Claims Life and Injures Another

A tragic vehicle collision in New London, New Hampshire, resulted in the death of one person and serious injuries to another, as confirmed by the New Hampshire State Police. The crash occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning on Little Sunapee Road.

According to authorities, at approximately 12:50 a.m., emergency services were dispatched in response to reports of a single-vehicle accident. State Police stated that the driver of a 2024 Hyundai Elantra, identified as Vincent Mendillo, a 27-year-old from Mission Viejo, California, failed to navigate a curve. The vehicle subsequently went off the road, collided with a utility trailer, and caught fire.

Salma Garcia, 26, also from Mission Viejo, traveling as a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mendillo sustained severe injuries and is receiving treatment at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

The incident is currently under investigation by the State Police Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, assisted by the New London Police Department, state troopers, and members of the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.

In a related incident, the body of Stephen Paquette, 41, reported missing from Littleton, was found in a submerged vehicle in the Connecticut River. His disappearance was registered on Friday by local authorities. The State Police’s Marine Patrol Unit, alongside the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, recovered the vehicle and the deceased.

Authorities urge anyone with information on the New London crash to contact Detective Sergeant Brian Ross at 603-223-8490 or via email at [email protected]. Additionally, information regarding the deceased man in Littleton should be directed to Marine Patrol Officer Mark Schofield at 603-293-2037 or via email at [email protected].

This series of events highlights ongoing traffic safety concerns in New Hampshire, prompting continued investigations and law enforcement responses across the region.