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A massive explosion closed part of Interstate 95 on Friday after a fuel tanker crashed into a major Connecticut bridge, sending a column of smoke and fire into the air and killing one person, people said. state officials said.
A flat tire on a passenger car set off a chain reaction that led to an explosion. This injured at least two of his people on the bridge, melted part of the bridge’s outer guardrail, and spewed large amounts of domestic heating oil into the river’s waters. The Thames, according to local officials.
Sgt. Connecticut State Police spokeswoman Christine Jeltema said the southbound lane of Interstate 95 was “closed for a considerable period of time” as officials determined whether the bridge and the Gold Star Memorial could be safely crossed. will be done,” he said.
At a press conference on Friday, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said, “Intense, sinister heat can endanger steel, but I hope it doesn’t.” It’s unclear how much fuel it was carrying, but said it had a maximum capacity of 2,800 gallons.
Connecting the coastal cities of Groton and New London, the bridge is a major transportation link in eastern Connecticut near the Rhode Island border.
The cities it connects are home to several universities as well as important military sites, including the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Naval Submarine Base New London, a major naval hub for attack submarines on the east coast. .
An estimated 60,000 vehicles use the bridge every day, Garrett T. Eucalitto, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, said at a press conference.
“We need to look extensively at steel structures to see when it is safe to reopen,” he said.
Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Pedro Muniz said injuries were reported after the 11:30 a.m. accident, but it was unclear how many or how many were injured. Said they were asking to avoid the area.
New London Mayor Michael Passero said in a text message to the New York Times that an oil truck driver died at the scene, after which two others were taken to a nearby hospital where they were injured in the explosion. added.
Buildings under the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, a pair of steel truss bridges over the Thames, were also on fire. Connecticut State Police said on Twitter.
Several agencies, including the Coast Guard, responded to the blast. Trooper Muniz said authorities closed the highway between his 86th exit and his 88th exit, and the bridge was closed in both directions for part of his day.
Amtrak According to press secretary Jen Flanagan, one delay was reported along the Northeast Corridor, which has tracks near the accident, but service resumed within 30 minutes.
Fatal accidents involving tank trucks are not uncommon in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, collisions with heavy trucks will kill 5,759 people in 2021, for a total of about 40,000 fatalities. This is up from her 4,870 people who died in such clashes in 2020, it said.
Johnny Diaz and Asma Elkert contributed to the report.
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