A semi-truck crash can bring a busy highway like the Mass Pike to a screeching halt. Especially when that crash coats the road in fuel while early-risers are battling traffic to get to work. Unfortunately, Bostonites dealt with that exact scenario after a large truck rolled, crashed, and dumped fuel all over a busy highway. 

An overturned semi-truck closed down a highway near Boston University, covering the road with a ‘large fuel spill’

At around 5:00 a.m., a semi-truck had a rollover crash, overturning the truck. The crash caused a “large fuel spill”, covering the road and immediate area in slick, flammable liquid. Understandably, emergency crews closed down every lane of the Mass Pike to handle the situation. Fortunately, the crash didn’t result in any fatalities or injuries, just a nasty chemical spill and some seriously delayed commuters.

Crews worked quickly, and within one hour, they had reopened a single lane of traffic, per WHDH. Of course, clearing a crash of this size requires time, manpower, and specialized equipment. After all, a fully-laden semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 lbs and span 75 feet. Righting a hefty semi-truck after a rollover crash is a tricky maneuver, even without a large fuel spill.  

Fortunately, fire departments and HAZMAT crews are trained to handle hazardous materials spills to protect bystanders and the environment. HAZMAT-trained firefighters use tools like barriers, booms, and absorbents to stop potentially harmful spills like fuel. As for the overturned truck, fire crews have to call large wrecker crews with specialized equipment to move the sort of weight you’d expect in a semi-truck.  

In this case, HAZMAT crews contained the considerable spill before it could do any more damage. However, even with the crews’ quick action, it took hours to open all the lanes of the Mass Pike to traffic. As such, morning commuters were contending with gridlock and painfully slow progress.