Hamilton and Danvers Women Killed in New Hampshire Cycling Accident

This story was written by Hampton-North Hampton Patch Editor Kyle Stucker.

Two North Shore bicyclists succumbed to injuries Saturday morning after they were struck by a vehicle during a race along Ocean Boulevard in Hampton, N.H.

Pamela Wells, 60, of South Hamilton, Mass., and Elise Bouchard, 52, of Danvers, Mass., were pronounced dead at Exeter and Portsmouth Regional hospitals, respectfully, after sustaining serious injuries in the crash.

Uwe Uhmeyer, 60, of Essex, Mass., and Margo Heigh, 54, of Danvers, Mass., were hospitalized at Portsmouth Regional and Anna Jaques hospitals, respectively, with non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash. 

The cyclists were participating in the 40th annual Granite State Wheelmen Tri-State Seacoast Century Ride, which started at Hampton's South Beach at 7 a.m. and continued through the Seacoast area. 

Hampton police determined that the accident was caused by the driver of a vehicle that crossed over the center line and struck four bicyclists.

Deputy Police Chief Rich Sawyer told Patch that a vehicle operated by Darriean Hess, 20, of Seabrook, was traveling southbound over the bridge on Route 1A when for unknown reasons her vehicle "veered over into the northbound lane" around 8:30 a.m. and struck four bicyclists who were riding north over the bridge as part of a non-competitive riding event.

After striking the cyclists, Sawyer said Hess' vehicle "road along" various structures, curbing and sidewalk on the bridge "for a distance" before it "popped back onto the road," "crossed back over" into the southbound lane, and "hit several road signs." The vehicle came to a stop after it "decimated" the "Welcome to Seabrook Beach" sign, according to Sawyer.
No charges were issued as of Saturday afternoon, as police are still "collecting evidence" and conducting interviews with witnesses at the scene, according to Sawyer. 
"The reason she crossed over is something we still haven't determined," said Sawyer.

Hess was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital for "minor injuries," according to Sawyer.