Truck Carrying $100,000 Of Lobster Slams Into Westwood Bridge; Driver Charged
WESTWOOD (CBS) – A truck carrying 7,000 pounds of lobster slammed into an MBTA rail bridge in Westwood early Tuesday morning, sparking a fire and huge problems for commuters.
The driver of the 13-foot tall Ryder rental truck tried to clear the 10-foot, 6-inch East Street overpass around 4:50 a.m. and failed.
The truck burst into flames after the crash. Surveillance video captured the impact.
"As a result of impact, a small fire started in the air-conditioner compressor that is positioned near the roof of the truck," Westwood police spokesman Paul Toland said in a statement.
"The fire was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported as a result of the crash," said Toland.
The entire load of lobster, worth an estimated $100,000, will be discarded.
MBTA service on the bridge was shut down until 8 a.m. because inspectors had make sure the overpass was still structurally sound. Inspectors deemed the bridge okay.
The incident caused significant delays on the Franklin commuter rail line.
Check: MBTA Service Updates
The truck driver, Todd Preson, 26, of Portland, Maine has been charged with operating a motor vehicle negligently so as to endanger and failure to obey municipal signs, according to Westwood Police.
Local residents say trucks hitting the bridge is a serious problem. On Monday, another truck struck the bridge.
Raw Video: Two Truck Crashes In Two Days At Westwood Bridge
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