Rochester, N.H. is grieving with heavy hearts and profound sorrow following the tragic loss of Stacey Odette-Bissell, 40, who was killed in a devastating head-on collision early Tuesday morning in Alton.
According to the Alton Police Department, the fatal crash occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. on April 28 along Henry Wilson Highway (Route 11) near Heron Point Road. Investigators say Stacey was traveling westbound in a 2023 Nissan Altima when, for reasons still under investigation, her vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a 2024 Jeep Compass.
The impact of the crash was severe. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage, and both drivers were trapped inside their vehicles when emergency crews arrived. Firefighters and first responders worked urgently at the scene, but despite their efforts, Stacey Odette-Bissell was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Jeep Compass, a 31-year-old woman from Berwick, Maine, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Route 11 remained closed for several hours as investigators from the Alton Police Department and assisting agencies documented the scene and worked to reconstruct the moments leading up to the collision. The roadway was later reopened, but the weight of the tragedy remained.
In Rochester, where Stacey was known and loved, the news has left family, friends, and community members in deep shock. Her sudden passing has created an unbearable silence for those who shared in her life — a life now remembered through grief, love, and cherished memories.
She is being remembered for the warmth she carried, the relationships she built, and the everyday moments that now feel more precious than ever. Those who knew her speak not only of loss, but of love — of laughter shared, conversations held, and the presence she brought into their lives.
Her absence is felt deeply in the hearts of those closest to her, as they struggle to process a reality that came without warning and without goodbye.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The Alton Police Department extended condolences to both families affected, thanking first responders and partner agencies for their efforts during the tragic response.
