Crashes, Fuel Leak Slowed Traffic On I-95 In Westport: Fire Officials

WESTPORT, CT — Two separate accidents, including a tractor-trailer crash with a fuel leak, significantly slowed traffic on I-95 South in Westport on Tuesday afternoon, according to officials.

Crews responded to I-95 South between Exits 18 and 17 around 3:30 p.m. and Engine 5 reported a three-vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer, pickup truck and a sedan, according to Assistant Westport Fire Chief Brett Kirby.

“Firefighters quickly triaged the three occupants from the involved vehicles and fortunately there were no injuries,” Kirby wrote in a news release. “Engine 6 arrived on scene to assist, and firefighters discovered a significant fuel leak from a diesel fuel tank on the trailer, with approximately 75 gallons left in the tank.

“The existing run off from the leak was successfully prevented from reaching a storm drain on the highway. Firefighters were also able to prevent any more of the fuel from leaking out of the tank onto the highway by improvising a method to transfer the leaking fuel back into the tractor saddle tanks. DEEP personnel arrived on scene and assisted firefighters with securing the small amount of fuel left in the leaking tank.”

The last fire department unit cleared the scene at 6:17 p.m., according to Kirby.

As units were finishing clearing the tractor-trailer crash, a call was received around 5:05 p.m. for a second accident between Exits 17 and 16, according to Kirby.

Kirby said first-arriving units found a box truck on its side over the concrete barrier on the left side of the highway within the construction zone. The two occupants of the vehicle had self-extricated and were found in the median, according to Kirby.

“Westport Fire personnel evaluated both occupants for injuries,” Kirby wrote in the release. “Fortunately, all injuries to the occupants of the box truck appeared to be non-life threatening. No other vehicles were involved in this accident. DEEP representatives arrived on scene very quickly having just cleared the previous accident on I-95 and commenced off-loading fuel from the box truck in preparation for a lift off the barrier.”

The last fire department unit cleared the scene at 7:41 p.m., according to Kirby.

“Traffic on the highway was significantly impacted southbound due to this accident,” Kirby wrote. “When driving in inclement weather such as torrential rain, make sure you leave plenty of room between yourself and surrounding vehicles. Slow down and move over for emergency vehicles operating at an emergency scene.”