Truck Cab Mangled, Driver Seriously Hurt After I-84 Crash In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Two tractor-trailers collided on Interstate-84 in Vernon Monday morning, leaving one driver seriously hurt, highway lanes closed and traffic snarled along Route 30.

The crash took place at 7:28 a.m. Several state police vehicles and Vernon fire trucks rushed to the scene.

The trucks crashed on the eastbound side of the highway between exits 64 and 66. They were pushed to the far right-hand lane. The shoulder, the right-hand lane and the center lane were closed, backing up highway traffic into Manchester.

One truck appeared to have rear-ended another and its cab was mangled.

That left number-to-bumper traffic on Route 30 from Vernon circle to Vernon Center because of vehicles exiting the highway.

At 1:30 p.m., crews were still working at the scene with heavy wreckers.

State police released a report on the crash late Monday afternoon after the scene was was cleared.

A truck being driven by a 45-year-old Maryland man was parked in the right shoulder, just east of Exit 65, state police said. The second truck was traveling east in the right lane and veered onto the right shoulder and slammed into the rear of the parked truck's trailer, according to the report.

The parked truck was pushed into a DOT light pole, state police said.

The driver of the parked truck was transported to Hartford Hospital with minor injuries by Vernon EMS.

The driver of the second truck was trapped in the cab and, upon extrication was transported to Hartford Hospital via Life Star helicopter with serious injuries, according to the report.

State police said anyone who witnessed the collision or has information on it can call Trooper First Class Timothy Benjamin at the Troop C barracks at 860-896-3200 x8061.