NEW HAMPTON, N.H.

Snow contributes to crash that involved 20 vehicles

Authorities in New Hampshire say 20 vehicles crashed in a chain-reaction accident during heavy snowfall on Interstate 93.

New Hampshire Department of Transportation spokesman Bill Boynton said the crash happened near Exit 22 Saturday afternoon. He said the pileup left five people injured, but none of the injuries was life-threatening.

The accident temporarily forced the closing of I-93. Twelve vehicles were involved in the initial crash, before four more vehicles became involved. Boynton said an additional four vehicles veered off the road to avoid the pileup.

ROCHESTER, N.H.

Man charged with slashing girlfriend’s throat with knife

Police say a man faces charges of slashing his girlfriend’s throat with a kitchen knife.

Police told WMUR-TV that the 38-year-old victim, who was not identified, ran into the Rochester police station bleeding from her neck Friday afternoon. She told officers that her boyfriend, 40-year-old Nathan Fisher, had cut her throat during an argument at their apartment. She was taken to Frisbie Memorial Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police found Fisher at the apartment, but due to medical complications he was taken to the hospital, where he remained unresponsive for several hours. After he regained consciousness, he was arrested on charges of first-degree assault, criminal restraint, criminal threatening and simple assault.

RAYMOND, N.H.

Man accused of assaulting infant less than 1 year old

Police say a 26-year-old man faces charges of assaulting an infant less than 1 year old.

Police said they received reports that an infant about 2 months old had suffered injuries in recent weeks. An examination of the baby at Exeter Hospital showed that the child had suffered multiple fractures.

Cavan G. Moore of Raymond faces three counts of second-degree assault on a victim less than 1 year old. He’s being held on $25,000 cash bail pending an arraignment in Candia Circuit Court.

BOSTON

Bill aims to help protect domestic violence victims

Massachusetts lawmakers have approved a bill designed to protect victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault by letting them break a lease without penalty.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem, said that under the bill, victims who live in private housing would receive protections similar to those available under federal law to residents of public housing. The bill has been sent to Gov. Deval Patrick, who is expected to sign it.

– From news service reports