A late-night crash on Interstate 95 in Boxford left a pedestrian with life-threatening injuries Tuesday, as state police shut down the southbound side of the highway and pushed drivers onto local roads. Massachusetts State Police said troopers were called shortly after 8:30 p.m. to the southbound lanes near Mile Marker 74. The pedestrian, who was struck by a vehicle, was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. While crews worked at the scene, southbound traffic was diverted off Exit 74 to Topsfield Road.
According to NBC Boston, state police confirmed both the response and the traffic diversion and said investigators remained on scene. Reporter Mike Pescaro noted that emergency crews were still working the crash as of the outlet’s latest update.
Traffic impacts
Drivers headed south on I-95 near the Boxford and Topsfield line were told to expect delays while the response continued. The detour routed highway traffic onto local streets that are not built for heavy volumes, a setup that can quickly jam roads through Topsfield and nearby communities. Motorists were urged to build in extra time and, where possible, steer to alternate north–south routes.
Pedestrian safety on state roads
Serious crashes involving people on foot remain a stubborn problem in Massachusetts. WalkMassachusetts reported that at least 76 pedestrians were killed on state roads in 2025, noting that high vehicle speeds and limited safe crossing options factored into many of those incidents. Safety advocates continue to push for road design changes and targeted enforcement on fast-moving corridors to lower the odds of another tragedy.
What investigators say
Massachusetts State Police told NBC Boston that “the cause of the crash is under investigation.” Troopers have not yet released the pedestrian’s identity or any specifics about the vehicle involved and said more details will be made public as the investigation moves forward.
