New Details About Major Tractor-Trailer Fire On I-84 In Southbury

SOUTHBURY, CT — State Police released new details about the fiery crash that shut down a portion of Interstate 84 Eastbound in Southbury on Saturday for several hours.

State Police said at 4:51 a.m. troopers responded to a two-vehicle tractor-trailer accident on I-84 eastbound prior to exit 17. Benjamin Hurd, 41, of Middlebury, was driving a tractor-trailer that veered off the roadway and collided with Grigory Frekhtmann's tractor-trailer that was stopped in the right shoulder due to a mechanical problem, State Police said.

Both vehicles burst into flames and Hurd suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital by Middlebury Ambulance, State Police said. Frekhtmann, of New Jersey, wasn't injured, State Police said.

The fire was so severe that it took several hours to contain and required the highway be closed for a lengthy period of time. Agencies that assisted include: Middlebury Fire, Connecticut DOT and the Connecticut DEEP.

The accident remains under investigation.

SOUTHBURY, CT — A portion of Interstate 84 in Southbury remains closed as of 8:45 a.m. Saturday due to a serious tractor-trailer fire, State Police said. At 4:50 a.m. on the eastbound side of I-84, near exits 16 and 17, two tractor trailers crashed and one caught fire.

As of 8:45 a.m. the eastbound lanes remained closed while the westbound lanes are now open. State Police said a minor injury was reported.

Photos via CT State Police