Concord, NH — July 13, 2025, Curtis Avery was killed following a rear-end van accident that occurred along Interstate Highway 89.
According to authorities, the accident took place in the southbound lanes of Interstate Highway 89 in the vicinity of the Clinton Street exit.
Traffic in the area at the time was apparently slowing due to congestion. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a southbound 1979 Volkswagen van occupied by 69-year-old Curtis Avery collided with the rear-end of a delivery van.
Avery was reportedly entrapped in the wreckage and had to be extracted by emergency personnel. Once freed from the aftermath he was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive immediate treatment for critical injuries incurred in the collision. However, reports state that he was ultimately unable to overcome the severity of his injuries, having there been declared deceased.
Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a driver rear-ends another vehicle in congested traffic, it’s easy to assume the fault lies with the trailing vehicle. But when the vehicle involved is a 1979 Volkswagen van—a model built long before modern safety or braking standards—the more important question becomes: Did the driver have a realistic chance to stop in time, or was this an outcome driven by outdated equipment, sudden traffic changes, or both?
Older vehicles like the one in this crash lack key safety systems that modern drivers take for granted—anti-lock brakes, crash crumple zones, advanced lighting, and even head restraints. They also require longer distances to come to a stop and are less forgiving in emergency maneuvers. That makes them especially vulnerable in stop-and-go highway conditions, where delays in reaction time or braking response can turn a routine slowdown into a fatal collision.
Even so, that doesn’t automatically clear the other driver. Investigators should still be asking whether the delivery van slowed gradually or braked suddenly, whether its lights were functioning, and whether it was following other vehicles at a safe distance itself. If the van stopped abruptly or without warning, and the trailing driver had no meaningful chance to respond, that changes how responsibility might be shared.
Another critical angle to examine is visibility and speed. Was the flow of traffic steady before the slowdown, or did it change abruptly? Was the sun a factor at that time of day? Did either driver have a clear view of the road ahead? I’ve worked on cases where the layout of the roadway—curves, shadows, or hill crests—left drivers with almost no time to react when congestion appeared just around a bend.
The mechanical condition of the Volkswagen is also worth reviewing. In cases involving older vehicles, worn brakes, underinflated tires, or unresponsive steering often play a role. A full post-crash inspection may help determine whether this was a preventable crash with a properly maintained vehicle—or whether aging equipment left the driver with no safe options once traffic slowed.
Key Takeaways
- The age and mechanical limitations of the 1979 Volkswagen van may have affected its ability to stop safely in modern traffic conditions.
- Investigators should assess whether the delivery van braked abruptly or failed to provide adequate warning before slowing.
- Roadway layout, visibility, and traffic patterns may have contributed to a sudden slowdown that left little room for reaction.
- A post-crash inspection of the Volkswagen may reveal whether equipment condition played a role in the severity—or avoidability—of the crash.
- Rear-end collisions aren’t always straightforward; accountability depends on timing, visibility, and the equipment each driver had available to respond.
call us 
Email Us 
Text us