Four Escape Serious Injury in Rollover on I-95

A mother and her three children miraculously escaped serious injuries late Thursday when their minivan was struck from behind by a tractor trailer on Interstate 95's southbound side and rolled over several times, firefighters said.

Assistant Fire Chief Douglas Chavenello said a poodle in the minivan escaped after the 11:30 p.m. accident and was loose in the town's Southport neighborhood. "We looked for it for a while and couldn't find it," he said.

AMR Ambulance Co. transported the mother and her three children, estimated to range in age from about 2 years old to 10 years old, to a hospital in Bridgeport, but their injuries were not considered serious. Two children were still in their car seats when firefighters arrived; extrication was not required, Chavenello said.

"We transported four to the hospital, but that was more precautionary than anything else," Chavenello said, adding that the mother and her three children were "very lucky."

Chavenello said another car also was involved in the accident, but no one else was injured. He said the accident took place on the bridge that goes over the Post Road in the town's Southport neighborhood.

The accident happened after the minivan and a car slowed down for a snow-removal truck on the highway and a tractor trailer struck the minivan with the mother and children from behind, Chavenello said.

Two engines and a ladder truck responded to the accident, Chavenello said.