The driver in a single-vehicle crash on Hampshire Road in Rindge was injured when their Jeep rolled over on Wednesday evening.
The driver, Celestino Coutinho, 43, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was driving a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee when the vehicle drifted off the road and crashed, rolling and coming to rest on the driver’s side, Rindge Police Sgt. Rachel Malynowski said Thursday morning.
It is believed Coutinho dozed off at the wheel, causing the crash, Malynowski said. No other vehicles were involved.
Coutinho was initially reported as being trapped inside the vehicle, and emergency crews were called for, according to Fire Chief Rickard Donovan. But by the time fire crews were on the scene, Coutinho had been able to get out of the vehicle through the front windshield with the assistance of police.
“Originally, it sounded worse than what it was,” Donovan said.
Coutinho was injured by the crash, and complained of severe abdominal pain, Malynowski said, and was taken by ambulance to Monadnock Community Hospital, but his injuries did not appear to be life threatening. There was substantial damage to Coutinho’s Jeep, and it was towed from the scene.
The scene was cleared by 11 p.m.
New Ipswich police, New Hampshire state police, and Rindge Fire and Rescue and Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance assisted at the scene.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.