Accident on Massachusetts Turnpike paralyzes traffic.

Image of the original CBS News article

An accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike Friday morning left thousands of drivers stuck in a massive traffic jam heading toward Boston. Stay up to date with the latest local news at MORE LATIN.

The incident, which involved a truck overturning at Exit 131 (Cambridge Street and Storrow Drive) on the eastbound side of the highway, occurred around 5 a.m., just as morning traffic was beginning to build.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, the overturned truck did not cause serious injuries. However, fuel spilled, complicating the situation and requiring the intervention of Boston firefighters. The vehicle was removed after 9:30 a.m., and all lanes are expected to reopen this afternoon.

Travel time from Route 495 in Hopkinton to Boston soared to one hour and 40 minutes, more than double the usual 30 to 45 minutes. Officials, led by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), advised drivers coming from the west to seek alternative routes, such as Route 9, or use the MBTA commuter rail.
MassDOT spokesman John Goggin said signs and messages were in place to guide drivers through the affected areas. However, traffic in Boston remained challenging for much of the day.

State Police spokesman Tim McGuirk said there were no details yet on the cause of the crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike, but noted that a thorough investigation would be conducted to clarify the events.