Hudson, NH – New Hampshire State Police are investigating a fatal boating accident on the Merrimack River that claimed the life of a Nashua man Sunday evening.
According to the New Hampshire State Police, Marine Patrol officers and troopers responded at approximately 5:16 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2026, to reports of a boat crash with serious injuries on the Merrimack River in Hudson.
The preliminary investigation found that Erick H. Machado, 31, of Nashua, was operating a personal watercraft when it allegedly collided with the rear of a pontoon boat. Investigators said Machado entered the water and was struck by the pontoon boat’s propeller, suffering severe injuries to his legs.
The occupants of the pontoon boat immediately called 911, while bystanders aboard another personal watercraft helped bring Machado aboard a nearby boat. First responders from the Hudson Police and Fire Departments began lifesaving efforts after he was brought to shore.
Despite those efforts, Machado succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said the death is not believed to be suspicious, and the exact circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.
The investigation is being led by the New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol, with assistance from Troop B, the Hudson Police and Fire Departments, and the New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Trooper First Class Micah Jones at Micah.A.Jones@dos.nh.gov or (603) 724-8026.
