The serene communities of Belmont and Laconia are in mourning after a heartbreaking three-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Gilford, New Hampshire, killed 63-year-old Renee Privitera of Belmont and 20-year-old Grady Shoemaker of Laconia. What began as a quiet drive on the Route 3/11 bypass turned into a tragedy that’s left both towns struggling to process the loss.
According to Gilford police, the crash occurred at around 3:16 p.m. on Nov. 14, involving three cars: two heading north and one heading south. Investigators say that one of the northbound vehicles crossed the double solid line, triggering a sudden and devastating head-on collision. As of now, it’s still unclear why that vehicle drifted into oncoming traffic.
Tragically, both Privitera and Shoemaker were pronounced dead at the scene. In the aftermath, one person was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, while another escaped without injury. The crash snarled traffic on the Route 3/11 bypass, forcing a closure between Gilford Avenue and Lakeshore Road for several hours. The road reopened around 7:40 p.m.
For residents of Belmont and Laconia, the loss cuts deep. Renee Privitera was remembered as a steady, warm presence — someone whose strength and kindness had long endeared her to those around her. Grady Shoemaker, at just 20, was seen by friends and family as full of promise, energy, and a compassion that seemed far beyond his years.
As word spread, the communities rallied around the grieving families. Condolences poured in, neighbors brought meals, and people offered prayers and support in any way they could. Local leaders and clergy urged everyone to lean on one another — to check in, stay kind, and show up for the families now facing unimaginable grief.
Gilford police made a public plea for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information to come forward. They emphasized the importance of community cooperation in piecing together what happened and preventing such heartbreak from recurring. Anyone with details is asked to call 603-527-4737.
Although the investigation is ongoing, the impact of the crash is already being felt deeply: two lives cut short, countless hearts broken, and a community forever changed. The names Renee Privitera and Grady Shoemaker will linger in memory, not just for how they died, but for who they were — and for all that might have been.
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