Traffic is flowing again after crashes on both sides of Tukeys Bridge in Portland caused major delays for the morning commute on Interstate 295.

The incident started at 7:30 a.m. when a northbound sedan, driven by Josselyn Tillock, 20, of New Hampshire, moved from the travel lane into the passing lane, causing a Nissan Pathfinder that was already in that lane to crash into the guardrail and then roll over, according to Maine State Police.

A 3-year-old child who was in the sport utility vehicle was not hurt and the driver received just minor injuries, said Sgt. Jeremy Forbes. The driver, Andrea Goodwin, 31, of South Portland, was trapped because her seatbelt had locked in place and she needed to be cut free, he said. The seatbelt most likely saved her from serious injury, he said.

The northbound lanes were shut down while rescue workers extricated her and until a tow truck was able to remove the vehicle. Portland police helped divert traffic onto Washington Avenue.

The highway was reopened to northbound traffic around 9 a.m.

No citations were issued.

Minutes afterward, a series of minor crashes occurred on the southbound side of the interstate in the same location, said Trooper Andre Paradis. Police speculate that some southbound motorists were distracted by the sight of the crash and lost concentration.

Nobody was injured in those crashes; however, heavy inbound traffic was restricted to one lane that brought travel almost to a standstill and motorists were backed up to Cumberland. It was about 9:30 a.m. before the southbound lanes cleared, in part because the resulting traffic jam made it difficult for tow trucks to get to the crash scene to remove the vehicles that were involved.

Copy the Story Link