![\"Video:](\"https:\/\/c.ndtvimg.com\/2024-05\/g4qgrmuo_us-accident_625x300_03_May_24.jpeg\"\/ "\\"Video:")
<\/div>\nThe accident caused damage to the bridge over the highway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Interstate-95 in Norwalk, Connecticut, has been closed in both directions indefinitely following a crash involving a fuel tanker that caught fire beneath an overpass. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced the closure of this major transportation route linking New England and New York.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred early in the morning\u00a0in a chain-reaction collision when a car suddenly changed lanes in front of a truck pulling a flatbed trailer. At the same time, a fuel tanker was getting closer to the Fairfield Avenue overpass bridge, just after Exit 15 South.\u00a0This\u00a0involved a three-vehicle collision, resulting in a fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nTwo trucks caught fire on I 95 heading south through Norwalk Connecticut early this morning. I hope no one lost their lives, but that is very questionable. This stretch of highway is known to be one of the most dangerous stretches through the northeast. pic.twitter.com\/vu9UyMdMY4<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Lou DiMeglio (@DiMeglioLou) May 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Norwalk Fire\u00a0Department’s\u00a0Stephen Shay told CBS<\/a> that the tractor-trailer swerved to the right\u00a0and\u00a0he hit the other tractor-trailer, which\u00a0\u201cripped open the back of his gasoline tanker\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Although no serious injuries\u00a0were reported, the accident caused damage to the bridge over the highway, forcing the authorities to close\u00a0it,\u00a0and\u00a0leading to significant traffic disruptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Governor Lamont\u00a0stated that\u00a0the demolition would start\u00a0\u201cfirst thing tomorrow morning\u201d\u00a0as\u00a0\u201cthe heat from the burning fuel compromised some of the bridge”, as per AP<\/a>.<\/p>\n
He has declared a state of emergency as drivers now face challenges navigating detours, leading to traffic standstills and business slowdowns. According to the\u00a0Governor’s\u00a0office, the closed section of I-95 typically served 1,60,000 vehicles\u00a0per day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Governor said that it would impact the local merchants, adding he was worried about\u00a0\u201csupply chain issues.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A spokesperson from the Connecticut Department of Transportation revealed at a press conference<\/a> that despite the bridge being less than a decade old, the severity of the fire directly beneath it led to significant damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The heat caused the\u00a0bridge’s\u00a0seal to warp, rendering it unsafe for traffic in either direction. The intense heat from the flames also affected the structure and utility lines of the bridge, including gas, phone, and cable, passing beneath it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bill Turner, the\u00a0state’s\u00a0emergency management director, said that alerts would be sent to anyone in the affected area, urging them to avoid the vicinity for safety reasons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n