A tragic event unfolded early this morning on Route 3 north in Billerica, Massachusetts, resulting in the death of an individual. According to 7NEWS, Massachusetts State Police were called to the scene following reports of a car fire with potential entrapment. Once there, they found that no one was trapped inside the vehicle; however, a pedestrian had been struck by a car and was seriously injured. Despite the efforts of Billerica Fire and EMS, the victim, struck by a Mercedes Benz after exiting a burning Honda Accord, was pronounced dead at the site of the accident.

The collision caused significant disruptions, with traffic backed up for miles. State police stated, "For the safety of motorists and first responders, officials closed Route 3 until shortly before 4 a.m. when normal traffic resumed," as reported by 7NEWS. Details of what prompted the Honda Accord to crash and subsequently catch fire are still under investigation, and the identity of the victim has not been released pending notification of family members.

Emergency response teams, including State Police Crime Scene Services and the Collision Analysis Reconstruction team, responded to the aftermath of the crash. The highway was closed for several hours as authorities managed the situation. As per CBS Boston coverage, traffic had to be diverted away from the area while Billerica firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Damaged vehicles and a guardrail were visible near the crash site, where WBZ-TV noted the presence of multiple emergency vehicles and a significant traffic jam.

Earlier this year, the speed limit on Route 3 between I-95 and the New Hampshire border was raised from 55 mph to 65 mph. The adjustment made the speed conditions on this section of Route 3 consistent with other three-lane highways across the state. There is no confirmation from authorities at this time that speed played a role in this incident; the circumstances of the initial collision are still under examination by the police.