Joe Cox
Updated Saturday, Aug 15, 2015
By Stephanie O'Connell
I-95 north has reopened after a fatal crash on the northbound side and a fiery truck crash on the southbound side.
Interstate 95 was closed on the northbound side after a fatal multi-vehicle crash at exit 70 near the Baldwin Bridge, but it has since reopened. Two tractor-trailers and five cars collided at around 6 a.m., killing at least one person and left several others with life-threatening injuries.
LifeStar was called to the scene along with paramedics from several neighboring communities.
One first responder described the scene as "cars on top of cars."
Traffic has been crawling over the Baldwin Bridge this morning, taking cars more than half an hour to cross in the northbound lanes. Cars are being diverted due to the highway closure.
An hour before the fatal crash on the northbound side, there was a crash on I-95 southbound around 4:34 a.m., so that side of the highway was also closed but has since reopened. A Cottrell Tuck Lines, Inc. truck was traveling southbound on I-95 just a mile north of exit 70 in Old Lyme when it veered into the right shoulder and crashed into the guardrail and concrete bridge support, state police said.
The tractor-trailer caught fire. Debris from the truck was scattered all over the road, shutting down that side of the highway. The driver, Arturo Paez, 62, of Stratford, was transported to Yale Hospital by LifeStar to be treated for serious injuries.
DEEP was called for a diesel spill near Four Mile River Road. The Department of Transportation and DCP also responded to help with the cleanup.
Mal's Auto & Truck Repair was towed from the scene.
State police are still investigating both crashes.