Driver in Critical Condition After Fiery I-95 Crash in Attleboro

ATTLEBORO (WBSM) — A man is in critical condition after a multi-vehicle crash early Sunday morning on Interstate 95 in Attleboro.

According to Attleboro Fire Chief Scott T. Lachance, the department was dispatched to Interstate 95 north around 1:17 a.m. September 7 for a reported crash.

Crews arrived to find “a debris field stretching nearly a quarter-mile involving two vehicles,” Lachance said.

Firefighters Rescue Trapped Driver

The male driver of one of the vehicles was trapped inside with life-threatening injuries and had to be extricated by firefighters. He was then taken by advanced life support ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition.

Car Engulfed in Flames Beneath Overpass

The other vehicle involved in the crash came to rest about 400 yards away after it rolled over and struck a bridge support. When firefighters arrived, the car was fully engulfed in flames beneath the overpass; crews were able to quickly extinguish the blaze.

The woman who had been driving that vehicle was able to pull herself out before firefighters arrived. She was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

The identities of the drivers were not released.

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Highway Closure and Bridge Inspection

Lachance said the highway was closed until about 5 a.m. while Massachusetts State Police conducted their investigation, and that MassDOT was called to inspect the bridge after the fire and vehicle impact. MassDOT cleared the bridge for continued use.

Bystanders Complicate Rescue Efforts

“Several bystanders attempted to render aid before firefighters’ arrival. While well-intentioned, the large number of people on scene created challenges for first responders in quickly identifying who needed medical attention,” the fire department said in a release.

“With so many people present, the first few moments required careful coordination to determine who was injured and who was assisting,” District Chief Mark Renker added.

The crash remains under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police.