Connecticut highway on fire after fuel tank accident, closed indefinitely

Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut, was closed in both directions indefinitely following a crash involving a fuel tanker truck that caught fire under an overpass. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced the closure of this important transportation route connecting New England and New York.

The incident occurred early in the morning in a chain reaction collision when a car suddenly changed lanes in front of a truck pulling a trailer. At the same time, a fuel tanker approached the Fairfield Avenue overpass bridge, just past Exit 15 South. This involved a three-vehicle collision, resulting in a fire.

Two trucks caught fire on I 95 southbound through Norwalk Connecticut this morning. I hope no one lost their life, but that is very questionable. This stretch of highway is known for being one of the most dangerous stretches in the Northeast. pic.twitter.com/vu9UyMdMY4

-Lou DiMeglio (@DiMeglioLou) May 2, 2024

Stephen Shay of the Norwalk Fire Department said CBS that the tractor-trailer swerved to the right and he hit the other tractor-trailer, which “ripped off the back of his gas tanker.”

Although no serious injuries were reported, the accident caused damage to the bridge over the motorway, forcing authorities to close it and causing significant disruption to traffic.

Governor Lamont stated that demolition would begin “tomorrow morning”, as “the heat from burning the fuel compromised part of the bridge”, according to SHOVEL.

He declared a state of emergency as drivers now face challenges navigating detours, leading to traffic standstills and business slowdowns. According to the governor’s office, the closed stretch of I-95 normally served 1,60,000 vehicles per day.

The governor said this would impact local businesses, adding that he was concerned about “supply chain issues.”

A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Transportation revealed in a Press conference that despite the bridge being less than a decade old, the severity of the fire directly beneath it caused significant damage.

The heat caused the bridge’s seal to deform, making it unsafe for traffic in either direction. The intense heat from the flames also affected the bridge’s structure and utility lines, including gas, telephone and cables, that run beneath it.

Bill Turner, the state’s emergency management director, said alerts would be sent to anyone in the affected area, urging them to avoid the neighborhood for safety reasons.