I-95 in Norwalk, Connecticut is shut down in both directions and won’t reopen for several days after a fuel truck crashed and caught fire under an overpass early Thursday morning.
Officials described it as a chain-reaction collision where a car swerved in front of a truck pulling a flatbed trailer just as a fuel tanker approached.
This caused the tanker to collide with another truck, rupturing its gas tank.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency due to the traffic standstill caused by the closure.
Local roads are chaotic with thousands of drivers being rerouted around the accident scene.
Northbound lanes are closed at exit 14 and southbound at exit 15, with I-84 recommended as an alternate route.
The damage to the overpass is severe due to the fire, compromising the structure and utility lines underneath.
Governor Lamont confirmed the overpass will be demolished and the road repaved, with the closure expected to last until at least Monday.
Norwalk Public Schools will be closed on Friday due to potential traffic issues.
