Human waste leaking from a tractor-trailer on a Connecticut highway caused crashes including one involving two state police cruisers as vehicles spun out of control, authorities say.
No major injuries were reported in Monday night’s mayhem on Interstate 95 in Bridgeport. Troopers arrested the truck driver on several charges, alleging he knew there was a leak but kept driving.
The wrecks began shortly after 11pm when the leaking waste caused extremely slick conditions in the northbound lanes, state police said.
A motorcycle rider lost control and fell onto the road, ending up in a hospital with minor injuries. Vehicles crashed into other vehicles and concrete barriers.
Another tractor-trailer skidded into a parked state police cruiser, which then struck a second parked cruiser in the median. Both cruisers were unoccupied as troopers were helping others involved in wrecks.
State police reports indicate 10 vehicles crashed. The northbound lanes were closed for several hours during the cleanup.
Troopers said they found the driver after witnesses reported the company name seen on the truck. Authorities contacted the company, H.I. Stone & Son, which then called the driver and told him to pull over and wait for police, state police said.
The driver was charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment and failing to secure a load. He posted US$25,000 bail.
H.I. Stone & Son’s owner, Harry Stone, declined to comment.