Mass Pike westbound temporarily shut down near 495 after truck spills hazardous materials
HOPKINTON - The Mass Pike westbound was shut down in Hopkinton for over an hour Thursday ahead of the afternoon rush hour commute because a box truck rolled over and spilled hazardous materials on the turnpike.
The crash happened before the Interstate 495 interchange at mile marker 107 at about 2:30 p.m. The driver of the truck, a 74-year-old man from Worcester, suffered minor injuries according to state police.
Photos showed a fire truck, an ambulance and police vehicles at the scene. The crash occured in an area of the highway that is under construction.
Firefighters drained the truck's fuel tank to allow it to be repositioned. Crews were able to lift the truck upright using a crane. All lanes on the highway had reopened by 4:15 p.m.
The crash caused significant traffic backups and delays on both directions of the Mass Pike as well as secondary roadways.
WBZ-TV meteorologist Jacob Wycoff was among the commuters stuck in the traffic. "A lot of people just parking their cars, walking around. I don't think there's too many opportunities to walk on the Mass Pike," Wycoff said.
The exact cause of the crash, including any potential charges, remains under investigation by state police.
