ATTLEBORO — Two tractor-trailers and an SUV collided Friday afternoon on Interstate 295 North in Attleboro, sending two people to the hospital and closing all northbound lanes for more than two hours.
The Attleboro Fire Department responded at approximately 2:53 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, to a reported crash near mile marker 3.4.
Heavy traffic and gridlock made it difficult for emergency crews to reach the scene. Firefighters ultimately entered the highway and traveled south in the northbound lanes to access the crash.
Upon arrival, crews found two tractor-trailers and an SUV involved in the collision. One tractor-trailer, which was carrying a load of sand, had overturned onto its side and was blocking all northbound lanes.
Paramedics immediately assessed and triaged those involved. Two people were transported to area hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. They included the male driver of the overturned tractor-trailer and the female driver of the SUV.
Firefighters also discovered that the overturned tractor-trailer was leaking a significant amount of vehicle fluids. Crews deployed containment bins and used sand to control the spill and prevent fluids from reaching nearby soft ground and storm drains.
Attleboro firefighters remained at the scene while the overturned tractor-trailer was righted and secured for removal by a towing company.
All northbound lanes of I-295 remained closed until approximately 5:15 p.m.
The Massachusetts State Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
