Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton was the site of multiple vehicle crashes yesterday afternoon, prompting a closure of the interstate in both directions, with serious injuries reported, including children. The first incident involved a truck carrying a forklift crashing into a guard rail. Following this, a flatbed truck swerved to avoid the crash scene, flinging a Jeep Wrangler into the course of a tractor-trailer, which then collided with a box truck, as described by police, according to NBC Boston.
A cascade of events unfolded when traffic slowed in reaction to the first crash. A bobtail tractor failed to stop in time and rear-ended a passenger car, propelling it into a full tractor-trailer. It was this second crash that resulted in serious injuries to an adult and two juveniles, as reported by WHDH. The driver of the car was airlifted to a local hospital, while the children were transported by ambulance with severe injuries, as noted by WCVB.
MassDOT took to X to inform the public about the status of Interstate 90 eastbound, initially closed at exit 85. Traffic was eventually diverted, with closures impacting both directions of the highway as emergency services responded. The westbound side was first to reopen around 3:40 p.m., while eastbound lanes remained closed until before 6 p.m., requiring drivers to reroute their journeys significantly to get around the scene of the accidents, as per NBC Boston.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crashes are undertaken by the State Police Truck Team and the Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Unit, amongst others. State police has opened all snow gates to detour traffic off Interstate 90, placing the safety of motorists and first responders at the forefront of their response strategy. Images from the scene captured the disarray of vehicles including a spun-around tractor-trailer and a flipped Jeep Wrangler next to a box truck, visually narrating the violent unfolding of metal and velocity gone awry.
