In a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in southwest Connecticut, a tanker truck filled with gasoline burst into flames, leading to the closure of the East Coast's main north-south highway on Thursday. Despite the severity of the accident, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont reassured the public that there were no serious injuries reported.

The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. in Norwalk, under the Fairfield Avenue bridge. As a result of the crash, the bridge sustained damage, and it is likely that it will need to be replaced, amplifying uncertainty surrounding the reopening of the highway. Governor Lamont urged residents to stay away from the affected area due to the extensive traffic congestion caused by the accident.

To mitigate the impact of the closure, text alerts were sent to residents of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, and trucking companies were advised to seek alternative routes and means of travel. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was also informed about the situation.

During the morning rush hour, traffic was backed up for miles, causing gridlock not only on Interstate 95 but also on other major highways and secondary roads in the vicinity. The primary alternate route in the area, the Merritt Parkway, could not accommodate trucks due to its low underpasses.

This incident evokes memories of a similar tragedy that occurred last year in Philadelphia along I-95, where a gasoline-carrying tractor-trailer lost control, resulting in a fiery accident that destroyed a section of the highway.

While Scott Hill, chief engineer for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, stated that the Fairfield Avenue bridge did not appear at risk of collapsing, an assessment by engineers revealed that the bridge will likely need to be replaced. In the meantime, slow-moving detours were established to redirect traffic away from the accident scene.

The efforts to restore normalcy to the area encompassed tasks such as replacing downed wires and safely offloading approximately 3,000 gallons (about 11,400 liters) of gasoline remaining in the tanker. The initial load was estimated to be around 8,500 gallons (about 32,000 liters) at the time of the crash.

Given the potential dangers posed by the spilled gasoline, environmental crews were enlisted to clean up the area and contain any runoff. Fortunately, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection confirmed that the runoff was contained within a retention pond and did not reach the nearby Norwalk River.

This incident occurred just over a year after a similar accident on Interstate 95 in Connecticut, which forced a lengthy closure of the highway. In April 2023, a fuel truck caught fire after colliding with a stationary car on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge. The crash tragically resulted in the death of the fuel truck driver. Recently, the driver of the car involved in the incident was charged with negligent homicide.

Governor Lamont is expected to provide further updates on the status of Interstate 95 at 5 p.m. as authorities work diligently to restore normalcy to the affected area and ensure the safety of the traveling public.