miles murray henniker nh obituary

Publish date: 2024-05-27

Teenager Dies After High-Speed Police Chase Ends in Fiery Crash Into Henniker Home

A high-speed police chase through the town of Henniker, New Hampshire ended tragically late Sunday night when the teenage driver, 19-year-old Miles Murray of Henniker, lost control of his vehicle and crashed at high speed into a residence on North Main Street.

Murray was driving south on Route 202 in a 2011 Nissan Altima when state police attempted to pull him over. Instead of stopping, Murray sped away from the officers, who gave chase. Murray was driving recklessly as he attempted to evade capture, reaching high rates of speed as he flew down the two-lane Route 202.

Disaster Strikes on Deadly Curve

As Murray approached a sharp left curve on the state highway, he lost control of the Altima. The vehicle flew off the road over a mulch bed, clipping a rock wall and a large tree before slamming into two light posts. The car then careened across the front lawn of the home at 73 North Main Street, crashing broadside into a Jeep parked in the driveway.

Vehicle Lands Inside House

But Murray's out-of-control vehicle did not stop there. It plowed into the front of the house, the force of the impact sending the engine block hurtling through the exterior brick wall. The engine smashed through the interior wall and into the living room of the home, coming to rest on the floor surrounded by debris.

Meanwhile, the rest of Murray's crumpled vehicle remained lodged partway through the front wall of the house. Tragically, when first responders arrived, they found Murray had been ejected from the Altima during the crash. The 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Homeowner Barely Avoids Disaster

Remarkably, no one inside the home was injured, despite the shocking breach of the exterior wall. Homeowner Trevor Sims had just arrived home from work minutes before the crash. After feeding his cats, he sat down to eat dinner when the shocking collision occurred.

Sims hurried upstairs, only to be confronted by the smoldering engine block and gaping hole in his living room wall. Sims' mother-in-law had been on the upper floor when the engine rocketed into the house, narrowly avoiding striking her.

Extensive Damage

In the aftermath, the home suffered extensive damage. In addition to the massive holes in the exterior and interior walls, windows were shattered, the porch was destroyed, and the parked Jeep was totaled.

The State Police report on the accident concluded that excessive speed was the primary cause of the crash. Murray also had a history of previous violations, including speeding. The deadly crash remains under investigation, as police attempt to piece together why Murray attempted to flee from what began as a routine traffic stop.