Peabody Crash Leaves Fire Hydrants Strewn Across Route 128

PEABODY, MA — Fire hydrants and other scrap metal strewn across Route 128 in Peabody caused a major backup in both directions during the Friday morning commute.

Media reports said a driver was injured when the SUV she was driving hit the back of a truck carrying the hydrants and other large metal pieces at about 5:30 a.m. The crash near Route 114 southbound blocked the right travel lane.

About two hours later, the state Department of Transportation said the crash and all the metal had been cleared from the highway but that residual delays continued back to Endicott Street in Danvers.