A catastrophic multi-vehicle accident early Thursday morning involving a petroleum tanker truck, a tractor-trailer, and a passenger car has led to the closure of I-95 in each instructions, creating intensive visitors jams all through the realm.
The collision occurred round 5:30 a.m. within the southbound lanes of I-95 close to Exit 15, on the Fairfield Avenue overpass in Norwalk, Connecticut, abc7 NY reported.
The tanker, loaded with 8,500 gallons of gasoline, was considerably broken within the crash, main to an enormous fireplace outbreak.
BREAKING: In Norwalk, Connecticut, a petroleum tanker truck collided with one other car on I-95, leading to an explosion. pic.twitter.com/zXT6BRQiB0
— The Basic (@GeneralMCNews) Might 2, 2024
#BREAKING: Emergency personnel’s are on the scene after a petroleum tanker truck had crashed throughout an accident inflicting an enormous fireplace and explosion
⁰#Norwalk l #ConnecticutQuite a few firefighters, emergency personnel, and different authorities are on the scene in NorWalk,… pic.twitter.com/9u1acLfVgF
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) Might 2, 2024
Miraculously, no accidents have been reported following the incident. Authorities have confirmed that there is no such thing as a rapid danger of structural collapse regardless of the severity of the hearth.
“Paul Rizzo the Chief of the Bureau of Freeway Operations on the Division of Transportation confused that the bridge, whereas broken was not in imminent hazard of collapse. Nonetheless it could take a minimum of 3 hours to finish the investigation of the crash, and broken utility strains beneath the bridge have been nonetheless in want of evaluation by utility corporations. The long run structural integrity of the bridge would additionally require evaluation, as gasoline can burn scorching sufficient to trigger critical deformation,” Westfair Enterprise Journal reported.
The information outlet added, “William Turner, the State Dmergency Administration Director additionally defined that that whereas 6,500 gallons of gas both burned or ran off into the Norwalk River throughout the fireplace some gas stays and can should be eliminated. The firefighting foam in addition to the unignited gas that ran off are presently the topic of a booming operation by the Division of Vitality and Environmental Safety to attenuate ecological harm.”
State Emergency Administration Director William Turner supplied an replace on the environmental impression of the accident.
“Roughly 6,500 gallons of gasoline have both been consumed by the hearth or have leaked into the environment. Our response groups are presently managing a cleanup operation alongside the Norwalk River. This effort contains each native and state hazardous supplies groups who’re meticulously addressing the aftermath,” Turner mentioned.
Governor Ned Lamont (D) has been actively coordinating with federal authorities to handle the disaster. He talked about his discussions with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, emphasizing that federal assist is on standby to help with the continued state of affairs.
I can be holding a information convention immediately at 9:30 a.m. to supply an replace on the state of affairs on I-95 in Norwalk. We anticipate this space of the freeway to be closed for a major interval. Anybody touring via this space ought to discover alternate routes.
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) Might 2, 2024
As a result of intensive harm and ongoing security checks, each the northbound and southbound lanes of I-95 at Exit 15 are anticipated to be closed for an prolonged length. The precise timeline for reopening stays unsure as investigations and repairs are underway.
The closure has led to vital disruptions, with 1000’s of automobiles, together with many tractor trailers, being rerouted onto native roads, exacerbating visitors situations in and round Norwalk.
