A box truck careened out of control and flipped on its side earlier this morning, causing a significant disruption on the Massachusetts Turnpike near Oxford, authorities said. The crash, reported by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, occurred on the eastbound side at Mile Marker 87.8, effectively shutting down the right lane and triggering delays during the rush-hour commute.
Box truck crash in #Oxford on I-90-EB at MM-87.8 right lane closed. Expect delays.
— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) May 20, 2024
According to the Massachusetts DOT, which posted about the incident shortly after it happened, drivers were cautioned to expect slowdowns as a result of the accident. Their advisory included location details stating "#Oxford on I-90-EB at MM-87.8 right lane closed" and a call for travelers to anticipate problems as the morning progressed.
Cleanup crews were dispatched to the scene to remove the wreckage and facilitate a return to normal traffic flow as swiftly as possible. There were no immediate reports of injuries resulting from the incident, though emergency personnel were on the scene as a precautionary measure, attending to the overturned vehicle and assessing the situation for any potential risk.
Motorists in the area were advised to seek alternate routes or to prepare for additional travel time as the efforts to clear the scene unfolded—a task made more daunting by the volume of vehicles typically present on I-90 during weekday mornings, traffic on the highway is usually heavy today's crash adds a layer of complexity for drivers trying to navigate their way around the snarl.
The Massachusetts DOT continued to provide updates on the situation throughout the morning via their social media channels, urging motorists to stay informed before heading into the troubled area. By mid-morning, the lane closure remained in effect as efforts continued to fully reopen the highway to its regular traffic pattern.
