Six Hurt in Accident at Applecrest Farm

By Joey Cresta September 25, 2011 10:16 PM HAMPTON FALLS — Multiple people were injured, one critically in an accident involving two horse-drawn carriages at Applecrest Farm Orchards on Sunday. According to N.H. State Police, troopers responded to 133 Exeter Road (Route 88) at 1:58 p.m. to assist Hampton Falls police with an incident involving two carriages that resulted in serious injuries. The carriages, each drawn by two horses, were traveling in opposite directions when an apparent malfunction occurred, police said. As a result, the operator of each carriage lost control of the horses, which resulted in injuries to six people, police said. Police said Joan Perkins, 51, of Epping, suffered critical injuries, and Gregory Dow, 50, of Nottingham, suffered serious injuries in the accident. They, along with four others who had minor injuries, were taken to Exeter Hospital for treatment, police said. According to police, Perkins was later transferred to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston by a Dartmouth-Hitchcock medical helicopter due to the seriousness of her injuries. In an e-mail Sunday night, investigating Trooper Matthew T. Locke said he could not comment on what specifically caused the injuries. He said additional information should be forthcoming as the investigation continues through the week. Police said the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office is assisting with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Locke at 223-8490 or e-mail him at matthew.locke@dos.nh.gov. Assisting at the scene were members of Hampton Falls police and fire departments and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.