Lanes of Interstate 91 South in Meriden were closed for hours Wednesday after a collision caused one tractor-trailer hauling broccoli to overturn and another to go down an embankment, according to police. They have cited another driver and said witnesses reported that he was driving erratically.
The crash happened around 7:40 a.m.
State police said the driver of a 2014 Toyota Camry crossed from the right lane to the center lane, hitting a tractor-trailer and causing that truck to hit another tractor-trailer.
One of the trucks jacknifed and collided with the Toyota, went through the guardrail and dragged the Toyota with it, according to state police.
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The other tractor-trailer was knocked to the left median, hit the guardrail and rolled over, police said.
Witnesses told police that the driver of the Toyota was driving erratically and was weaving in and out of lanes before the crash, state police said.
All drivers reported minor injuries. The drivers of the two trucks were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital to be evaluated, police said.
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Police cited the driver of the Toyota with reckless driving, failure to maintain proper lane and improper passing.
State Department of Transportation officials said I-91 south was closed between exits 18 and 17.
At one point, it appeared one lane of the highway had reopened, but state police said they were just letting cars that were between the tractor-trailers and the closure through so they could close the highway again. The scene has cleared, but CT Travel Smart reports there is emergency road work in the area.
A photo taken by an NBC Connecticut crew showed one tractor-trailer partially in the median of the highway.
Another tractor-trailer was partially down an embankment in the same area, state police said.
There were more than three miles of congestion in the area between exits 17 and 20, according to the DOT.
The state Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection was due to fuel spills, according to police.
Consumer protection was also called out for a load inspection on one of the tractor-trailers that was carrying broccoli, they added.
