Published: April 20, 2009 05:04 pm      

Man passes out from coughing, causing N.H. crash

BOW, N.H. — Authorities say a man driving a pickup truck in New Hampshire had a coughing fit and lost consciousness, leading to a fiery crash.

WMUR-TV reports the truck crashed on Interstate 93 in Bow, N.H., on Monday morning.

Emergency workers say the driver had a coughing fit and lost consciousness. His pickup went off the highway, hit a pole and then caught fire.

A state trooper witnessed the crash and stopped to help. The driver suffered bumps, bruises and possibly broken ribs.

Officials say a gun in the truck was discharging because of the heat of the fire.