Manchester, NH – A Massachusetts man is facing multiple felony charges after a crash on Interstate 93 in Manchester Friday evening led to a chaotic scene involving a firearm, according to state police.
According to New Hampshire State Police, the incident began around 5 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026, when troopers received reports of a black GMC pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed and being driven erratically. Minutes later, troopers responded to a crash on I-93 north near mile marker 18.4 in Hillsborough County.
Authorities say the driver, identified as 48-year-old Michael J. Collins of Bradford, Massachusetts, was acting erratically when troopers arrived. Witnesses reported that before police reached the scene, Collins allegedly threw an object—later identified as a firearm—over a barrier near the interstate.
According to police, Collins initially refused commands before eventually complying and being taken into custody. Investigators determined he had lost control of the pickup, struck a guardrail, crossed lanes, and hit another vehicle. The other driver was not injured.
Multiple lanes on I-93 were closed during the response, with assistance from the Manchester Fire Department and New Hampshire Department of Transportation.
Police say Collins was taken to a hospital for treatment before being released and held without bail. He faces several charges, including reckless conduct with a motor vehicle and firearm, falsifying physical evidence, DUI-related offenses, and conduct after an accident.
The case remains under investigation.
