Exeter Teen Critically Injured in Crash

An Exeter teen suffered serious injuries in a crash involving a school bus on Tuesday morning.

Jesse Godin, 18, of Exeter was trapped inside his vehicle and had to be extricated using the Jaws of Life, according to police. He suffered what police said were "serious" injuries in the crash. According to WMUR, he is in critical condition with a punctured lung, a dislocated hip and two broken ankles. Godin is a 2012 Exeter High School graduate.

The crash occurred at 6:49 a.m. on Portsmouth Avenue near Allen Street. According to state police, Godin's Volkswagen Jetta was headed north on Portsmouth Avenue when it crossed the center lane and struck a van heading south. Godin's vehicle then spun out of control and struck the front end of a school bus owned by First Student of Exeter.

After colliding with the bus, Godin's vehicle caught fire, and the driver of the school bus, Jennifer A. Call, 44, of Exeter backed the bus away from the vehicle to protect the students on board. A passerby using the extinguisher on the school bus was able to put out the fire.

Call and the four children on the bus were taken to Exeter Hospital as a precaution. Also transported was the van's driver, Hasmukh Patel, 54, of Sanbornville and a passenger in his vehicle.

Godin was treated at the scene and later transported to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.

The cause of the investigation remains under investigation by Officer Nate Goard of the Exeter Police Department. State police said speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call Officer Goard at 603-772-1212.