---
title: "Dash Cam Shows Teen Driver Survive Final Destination Head-On Crash With Semi-Truck"
description: "An explosive head-on crash between a tractor-trailer and a Jeep Wrangler was captured on a fellow driver's dash cam."
date: "2019-01-31"
modified: "2019-07-10"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/26262/dash-cam-shows-teen-driver-survive-final-destination-head-on-crash-with-semi-truck"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "Accident"
  - "Dash Cam"
  - "Jeep Wrangler"
  - "new hampshire"
  - "Semi Truck"
---

# Dash Cam Shows Teen Driver Survive Final Destination Head-On Crash With Semi-Truck

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/01/dashcam-wrangler-crash.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A New Hampshire teen is unbelievably lucky to be alive this week after surviving an explosive head-on [crash with a semi-truck](<https://www.dallastexaspersonalinjurylawyers.com/practice-areas/accident-lawyer/>) that was captured on a fellow driver's dash cam, [*WHDH News* reports.](<https://whdh.com/news/absolutely-a-miracle-mother-of-teen-involved-in-fiery-nh-crash-grateful-son-is-alive-3/>)

Eighteen-year-old Sam LaChance was driving his two-door Jeep Wrangler on an undivided stretch Route 101—speed limit 55 mph—in the town of Dublin when he drifted across the double yellow line and smashed into the oncoming big rig. The impact tore open the truck's diesel fuel tanks, triggering a massive fireball that briefly consumed the Jeep, the cab, and the entire roadway in a scene that wouldn't be out of place in *Final Destination.*

https://twitter.com/_/status/1090047011678810118

Driving behind LaChance was Marc Cramer with his own teenage son in the passenger seat. Footage from his dash cam shows the disastrous tableau unfold in a split second, the crumpled Jeep bouncing off the tractor-trailer with sickening force and spinning back into his lane. Unable to stop in time or veer around it, Cramer plows straight through the flaming wreckage before coming to a stop on the side of the road. The clip is truly horrifying.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1090116869967806464

Cramer, his son, and another driver ran over to the smashed Wrangler and pulled out an unconscious LaChance as the fire continued to burn. The driver of the truck, 66-year-old Jean Morency, reportedly suffered minor "bumps and bruises." LaChance was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where doctors found he sustained a fractured foot, ruptured spleen, and second- and third-degree burns. The little Wrangler held up surprisingly well, all things considered.

"Absolutely a miracle. Everyone was in the right place at the right time," his mother Jessica LaChance [told *WHDH News*](<https://whdh.com/news/absolutely-a-miracle-mother-of-teen-involved-in-fiery-nh-crash-grateful-son-is-alive-3/>) upon seeing the footage. "Total disbelief. I didn’t realize how horrible it actually was. A mom’s worst nightmare."

It feels trite to say it could have been much worse—just watch the video again. LaChance is reportedly in good spirits and recovering well, though he'll remain hospitalized for at least another couple months. It's not clear why he drifted into oncoming traffic.

https://youtube.com/embed/1JhoHAwZsHw

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)