EXETER, N.H. — A New Hampshire man who was killed in a high-speed crash that tied up traffic on Rte. 101 for six hours on Saturday reportedly had a record of impersonating officers.
The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that Eric Williams, 33, of Hampton, was convicted in 2011 of impersonating a U.S. Marshal and in 2006 of impersonating a Norfolk County deputy sheriff.
New Hampshire State Police said in a statement on Sunday that a trooper had attempted to stop Williams on Rte. 101 for several violations, but Williams fled, speeding down the highway before swerving and losing control shortly before 3 p.m. He then flipped his car over the median and landed on the opposite side of the highway, police said. Williams, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected and killed at the scene.
The Renselaers, who live in a neighborhood beside the highway, heard the crash from their home.
“I was in the back of the house, and I heard a crash,” Bob Renselaer said. “Looked out the window and actually saw the car tumbling, and then within two seconds, I hear sirens and saw a couple of state trooper cars arrive.”
“It’s very tragic, and we are very glad no one else was hurt,” his wife Mary added. “The way that car was airborne, it certainly could’ve hurt other people.”
Several witnesses reported that the mangled vehicle looked just like a patrol car.
“It looked like a Ford Crown Victoria, like an old cop car,” Don Fowler said. “It had the light on the side of it, the strobe light that a cop car would have.”
Police have not commented on Williams’ vehicle or the violations for which he was wanted.