Tractor-trailer crash on Blue Route snarls traffic
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP » A fully loaded propane tanker overturned on the southbound Blue Route at the ramp to go north on I-95 north Tuesday afternoon, setting off a traffic nightmare that affected travel on several of the county’s major arteries, officials said.
Big sections of both the Blue Route and I-95 were shut down in the area.
Officials reported an active leak from the tanker and hazmat units were dispatched to the area.
The Blue Route Southbound was shut down from the Baltimore Pike exit to I-95 shortly after the crash, which occurred about 2 p.m. Southbound traffic on the Blue Route was clogged immediately after the crash and quickly backed up to the Broomall exit once the span was shut down at the Media-Swarthmore exit at Baltimore Pike.
The driver of the big rig was able to get out of the truck after the accident.
Traffic on the southbound Blue Route quickly backed up to the Baltimore Pike exit before all southbound traffic was shut down. All southbound traffic on the Blue Route was being forced off at the Baltimore Pike Media-Swarthmore exit. Traffic on I-95 also was stopped in both direction in the area of the Blue Route interchange.
CSX train traffic also was shut down in the area.
An all-county alert was issued for fire police to assist at the scene.
Several fire companies were called to the scene and a foam unit from Boeing was dispatched to the scene. Traffic on many of the major arteries in the county such as MacDade Boulevard, Chester Pike, Route 291 and Baltimore Pike all were clogged with cars leading into the evening rush hour.