Horrific Accident Shuts Down I-95 [Update]

Two people were seriously injured in a horrific accident Wednesday night on Interstate 95 in Fairfield that sent two people to the hospital and caused a tractor trailer to become fully involved with fire, firefighters reported.

Assistant Fire Chief Scott Bisson said the accident involved an 18-wheel tractor trailer and a car and that an occupant from each was taken by AMR Ambulance Co. to a hospital in Bridgeport. He said neither had to be extricated and their conditions were not immediately known.

Bisson said the accident involved "numerous explosions" and that the tractor trailer was fully involved in fire when firefighters arrived. The accident was on the highway's northbound side, about a half mile before exit 25, Bisson said.

The driver of the tractor trailer, whose identity was not immediately available, was initially thought to be in the cab of the burning tractor trailer, but firefighters found him outside, according to the Fire Department's report. He was taken to Bridgeport Hospital with serious injuries, and the driver of the car was taken to Bridgeport Hospital with traumatic injuries, according to the Fire Department's report.

Bisson said the state Department of Environmental Protection was called to the scene because diesel fuel had leaked into storm drains after the truck's fuel tank ruptured and ignited. “The intense heat from the burning diesel fuel in the storm drains cause the concrete median to explode into pieces across all three lanes of the highway making the scene very dangerous for all emergency responders and bystanders,” the Fire Department's report states.

I-95 had to be closed in both directions for about 30 minutes following the 9:34 p.m. accident, according to the Fire Department's report.

Arriving firefighters found the trailer portion of the tractor trailer fully involved with fire, fire burning in storm drains, a large spill of diesel fuel along the highway median and a damaged car in the center lane with the driver still inside, according to the Fire Department's report.

Firefighters, responding to reports that the driver of the tractor trailer was still inside the cab, attacked the fire using foam designed to suppress flammable vapors and searched for the driver. They found the driver outside of the truck, according to the Fire Department's report.

Additional firefighters were called to the scene to supply water and manpower until the fire could be controlled. The trailer was carrying video equipment, according to the Fire Department's report.

Four engine companies, a ladder company and the Fire Department shift commander responded to the scene.

The accident is under investigation by State Police, according to the Fire Department's report.

Southbound lanes on I-95 were reopened first; northbound lanes between exits 23 and 24 remained closed early Thursday so chemicals could be cleaned up and vehicles could be removed. About 75 gallons of diesel fuel spilled on the highway and entered storm drains under the tractor trailer, according to the Fire Department's report.

In addition to Fairfield firefighters, State Police and state DEP, Connecticut Tank Removal workers also responded to the scene. The last Fairfield Fire Department unit cleared the scene at 11:16 p.m., according to the Fire Department's report.