I-495 Crash: Man Rescued From Crushed Car Fighting For Life

LITTLETON, MA — A man rescued from his car when a tractor-trailer rollover over on top of it is fighting for his life after a crash that shut down Interstate 495 in Littleton for hours Wednesday afternoon. Delays are expected to continue into the evening as only the left southbound lane was open at 6:30 p.m.

State Police said a Ford Focus was changing lanes on 495 South near Exit 31 in Littleton around 2:40 p.m. when he collided with the tractor-trailer carrying home heating oil. The driver of the tractor-trailer attempted to brake and avoid a collision, but both vehicles drove off the road, with the trailer rolling onto the Focus.

Police pulled a 41-year-old Salisbury man from the Focus. He was flown to UMass Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 52-year-old Gardner man, was driven to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

About 10,000 gallons of heating oil leaked from the truck, according to emergency radio broadcasts. There was reportedly a Level 3 hazmat response.

Massachusetts roads on Wednesday remained slick from a recent round of snow and subzero temperatures. There were serious crashes on Route 79 in Fall River and I-95 in Boxford Wednesday.

Heading into New Year's, temperatures will dip even further into subzero territory across Massachusetts and more snow is on the way.

Related:

I-95 Crash In Boxford: 5 Vehicles Involved

Massachusetts Weather Forecast: -25 Wind Chill; More Snow Incoming

Photos: The scene of a serious crash in Littleton on Interstate 495 December 27, 2017. (Credit: Massachusetts State Police)