A girl is in the hospital after driving erratically on Interstate 84 westbound in Southbury and colliding with one tractor-trailer, then driving almost directly underneath a second truck late Tuesday afternoon, according to Middlebury Fire Chief Paul Perrotti.
The highway was shut down briefly between exits 16 and 17 while authorities worked to clear the scene. Police said the crash happened near the South Street Bridge on the Southbury/Middlebury line.
According to Perrotti, the driver, who has not been publicly identified, veered off the highway around 4 p.m. Tuesday and struck a tractor-trailer that was parked on the side of the road.
Perrotti said her car ricocheted off the first tractor-trailer, then skidded almost directly underneath a second flatbed carrying an empty 3,000-gallon propane tank. The tractor-trailers were traveling together and had pulled over.
Police said emergency crews had to extract the car from underneath the flatbed. The driver was able to open her door and climb out, Perrotti said. An ambulance took her to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Firefighters cleared the scene around 5:30 p.m.
The highway has reopened, but expect residual delays.
Check back for updates.
