UPDATE: Flying Manhole Cover Slices Through Vehicle, Kills Driver on I-93

BOSTON, MA - An Milton elementary school art teacher was killed Friday morning when a flying manhole cover crashed through her front windshield and out her rear windshield on I-93 southbound near East Berkeley Street, officials said.

The manhole cover became dislodged and airborne, striking the vehicle and causing the fatality, police said.

The incident prompted MassDOT to inspect all the surface equipment and hardware on its travel lane highway structure in Boston, causing significant delays during the Friday commute.

“Our sympathy goes out to the family of the victim involved in this horrific incident this morning,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Thomas Tinlin. “This tragedy is leading us to take several steps immediately out of an abundance of caution.”

The woman was identified as Caitlin Clavette, an art teacher at Glover Elementary in Milton, according to CBS Boston.

Tinlin said it is unclear what caused the manhole cover to become dislodged. Manhole covers typically weight over 200 pounds.

Hardware on the road surface in the tunnel system is inspected every two years, Tinlin said. He also said the last time the manhole cover in this incident was inspected was June 12, 2014.

Police responded to the crash around 7:50 a.m.

Troopers from the Tunnels Barracks, State Police Crime Scene Services, Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and State Police detectives are investigating.

Photo courtesy of WHDH, 7-News.