MARLBOROUGH, N.H. (WHDH) - One person was killed in a crash between a school bus and a pickup truck in Marlborough, New Hampshire Friday morning, according to New Hampshire State Police.
State police responded to a reported crash involving the two vehicles on Route 12 near Webb Depot Road just after 7 a.m. When troopers arrived, they found a “serious collision” had occured, and the driver of the pickup truck involved was deceased.
The pickup driver was identified by state police as David Peloski, 74, of Swanzey, New Hampshire.
A preliminary investigation suggests the school bus, which was being driven by James French, 77, of Keene, New Hampshire, was traveling north on Route 12 when it was struck head-on by the pick-up truck.
“At some point, there was a lane incursion on behalf of the pickup truck, school bus was unable to maneuver in time, and it resulted in one fatality,” said New Hampshire State Police Lt. Sean Eaton.
The Modanock School District said 13 Monadnock Regional Middle High School students were on board the bus at the time of the crash. It said some students were taken to the hospital as a precaution, but no serious injuries were reported. They were all subsequently reunited with their families.
The driver of the school bus was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
State police said Peloski was the sole occupant of the pickup truck, and his body will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
“Very jarring to see, I feel like it’s always jarring to see when a school bus is involved,” said Sean Colby, who lives in the area of the crash. “It’s definitely a good thing that none of the kids were hurt, but definitely sad for the family of the guy driving the truck.”
Troopers assigned to the New Hampshire State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction (C.A.R.) Unit, Marlborough police, and Marlborough Fire are investigating.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has any information is asked to contact Trooper Eric Torrens at Eric.M.Torrens@DOS.NH.GOV.
(Copyright (c) 2026 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)