Car Gets Pinned Under Tractor-Trailer In Vernon Highway Crash

VERNON, CT — The eastbound side of Interstate 84 in Vernon was closed Wednesday morning and into the afternoon after a tractor-trailer and a car collided.

The crash was first reported on state police communications channels at 7:32 a.m. It took place just west of the Dobson Road overpass.

A car seemed to be at least partially stuck under the truck as state police and Vernon firefighters rushed to the scene.

Traffic was backed up well into Manchester. The left lane re-opened at about 10:15 a.m. and the highway was gradually opened in full, state police said.

Later on Wednesday, state police issued a preliminary crash report that indicated the truck was parked in the right shoulder in the gore of the Exit 64-65 off-Ramp and the Exit 65 On-Ramp.

The car, a 2011 Mercedez-Benz E350 driven by a 39-year-old Vernon woman, was initially traveling in the right lane, according to the crash report. The Mercedes started to travel onto the Exit 64-65 off-ramp, but instead veered back into the right lane, where it swerved multiple times between the right lane and shoulder before rear-ending the truck, according to the crash report.

Vernon fire officials said the driver of the car was in and out of consciousness, but was successfully extricated from the vehicle. State police said her injuries were "critical."

The driver of the Mercedes was transported via Life Star helicopter to St. Francis Medical Center, fire officials said.

Traffic was flowing freely by 4 p.m.