Elderly Ossipee Woman Killed in Tragic Route 28 Crash Involving Intoxicated Driver
The small town of Ossipee, New Hampshire, was struck by tragedy on Friday, May 16, 2025, when 80-year-old Dorothy Marshall lost her life in a devastating collision on Route 28. A beloved local resident, Marshall was driving her 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe when her vehicle was struck by a 2005 Mack dump truck, driven by 54-year-old Robert Gifford of Rochester. The crash, which occurred shortly before noon, has left the community in mourning and raised serious questions about road safety and the consequences of impaired driving.
The incident unfolded at approximately 11:47 a.m., when Ossipee Police Department officers received a report of a severe crash on Route 28, a busy thoroughfare that serves as a vital artery for the region. Initial findings indicate that Gifford was traveling northbound when he lost control of his dump truck. The heavy vehicle veered across the roadway, overturned, and collided with Marshall’s southbound SUV. The impact was catastrophic, causing the dump truck to spill its load across the road and leaving Marshall with fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene, a loss that has deeply shaken those who knew her.
Emergency response teams, including the Ossipee Corner Fire and Rescue, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Wolfeboro Police Department, worked tirelessly alongside state troopers to manage the chaotic scene. The New Hampshire State Police, including members of Troop E, Troop G, and the specialized Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, took charge of the investigation due to the crash’s severity. Their meticulous work required closing Route 28 for nearly seven and a half hours, with traffic diverted through a detour via Routes 28 and 171 to Pork Hill Road in North Wolfeboro. The prolonged closure underscored the complexity of the incident, as crews cleared debris and investigators pieced together the sequence of events.
As the investigation progressed, authorities made a troubling discovery: Gifford, who emerged from the crash unharmed, was allegedly under the influence at the time of the collision. Following a thorough examination of the evidence, he was arrested and charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a serious offense that carries significant legal consequences. Gifford is currently being held at the Carroll County Department of Corrections, awaiting an arraignment scheduled for Monday, May 19, 2025. The charge has intensified public concern, as residents grapple with the preventable nature of the tragedy.
Dorothy Marshall’s death marks the second fatal crash in Ossipee within a week, prompting renewed calls for improved safety measures on local roads. Witnesses described hearing a loud bang at the time of the collision, with one local business owner, Paul Ciccotelli, recounting the harrowing sight of the overturned dump truck and Marshall’s heavily damaged SUV. Despite the efforts of bystanders to assist, there was little that could be done for Marshall, whose vehicle bore the brunt of the impact.
The New Hampshire State Police continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash, including the factors that caused Gifford to lose control. They are urging anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident to contact Trooper First Class Dan Quartulli at Daniel.R.Quartulli@dos.nh.gov. As the community mourns, Marshall’s life and legacy serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for accountability on the roads. Her loss will be felt deeply in Ossipee, where she was a cherished member of the tight-knit community.
