By GEOFF CUNNINGHAM Jr.

Staff Writer

MEREDITH — A man and woman were taken to the hospital with serious injuries this morning after the vehicle they were in spun out of control on Parade Road, left the roadway and struck a clump of trees and rocks.

Police have not yet released the names of the two victims, who had to be extricated from a badly damaged Volkswagen Jetta.

The woman passenger appeared to have suffered more serious injuries than the male driver. They are believed to be from Laconia and Meredith, but police did not say who was from which community.

The accident occurred at 4:57 a.m. on Parade Road just north of the intersection with Rollercoaster Road. A light rain was falling during the time of the crash.

Meredith Police Sgt. Keith True reported that the car was traveling north on the road when the driver lost control.

"It appears that the driver lost control on the roadway and the car spun," he explained.

The vehicle left the northbound side of the road and slammed into a cluster of trees and rocks located down a grassed embankment.

Meredith Fire Department crews used hydraulic cutters to pry a door from the car and remove both occupants, said to be in their mid to late 20s.

Both were taken to Lakes Region General Hospital by Stewart’s Ambulance Service of Meredith. Authorities said they are unsure of the specific nature of the victim’s injuries, but reported them to have been substantial.

The car involved in the accident was destroyed with its rear end twisted and crushed from the impact.

Fire Chief Chuck Palm said crews ran fire hoses to the scene of the crash in the event the vehicle caught on fire. Fire personnel also used absorbent pads to soak up fuel that was leaking from the vehicle, which was later towed from the scene by Ludwick’s Auto Rescue.

Police shut down Parade Road while the vehicle was being removed from the woods.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.