A fiery early morning truck crash on the Zakim Bridge has roiled traffic throughout the region and left one dead.
“The accident scene is being cleared up now and following that we’ll have inspectors making sure there is no damage” to the structure of the bridge, said Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokesman Michael Verseckes.
The accident, which happened around 5:30 a.m., closed Route 93 northbound and the left lane of Route 93 southbound on the Zakim Bridge for a few hours during the Marathon Monday rush hour. The southbound lanes and one northbound lane now have reopened but traffic remains backed up for miles.
“Drivers should still expect delays and avoid the area if possible,” Verseckes said.
The closure forced commuters and race spectators onto I-95 and Route 128, creating massive backups on those roads as well. The Pike eastbound also is experiencing severe delays.
Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Fire Department remain on the scene of the crash between the fruit and vegetable tractor-trailer and a passenger car that left both engulfed in flames.
About 40 firefighters responded to the scene and pumped water up to the bridge from the river below, said fire department spokesman Steve MacDonald.
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