Published in the February 8, 2017 edition
FIRST RESPONDERS from multiple communities responded to a massive multiple car crash on Route 128 northbound early this morning between Exits 39 and 40. The crash was precipitated by extremely icy road conditions.
WAKEFIELD — A massive, weather-related multi-car pileup on Route 128 in Wakefield early this morning had traffic backed up for miles in both directions for several hours during the morning commute.
The trouble began between Exits 39 and 40 (North Avenue and the Route 129 Rotary) in front of the Comverse building when one or more vehicles hit an icy patch of the highway. In the end, at least eight people were taken to area hospitals after between 30 and 50 vehicles from passenger cars to tractor-trailers were involved in the chain-reaction pileup.
Police and the Fire Department began receiving multiple 911 calls at about 5:50 a.m. today. Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said that when his crews arrived they found at least 12 multiple-car accidents in a row, and many vehicles with very significant damage. Roadway conditions were so bad, Sullivan said, that it was even difficult for first responders to stand up on the icy roadway.
He said that his crews immediately set up a triage operation to handle the injured. Sullivan said that it was miraculous that there were no life-threatening injuries as a result of the accidents, although there were many vehicles with airbags that deployed. Sullivan also said that surprisingly firefighters did not have use the Jaws of Life or any other hydraulic tools to extricate the accident victims from the vehicles.
Due to the size of the accident, in addition to Wakefield, Fire Departments from multiple communities sent mutual aid crews to the scene, including Melrose, Lynnfield, Reading and North Reading.
Both the Wakefield and Reading DPWs sent sanding trucks to the scene in an effort to expedite access for emergency vehicles and tow trucks, although it was difficult for the sanders to get there initially because of the gridlock. Ambulances and tow trucks were forced to go up the Route 129 Exit ramp the wrong way to get to the accident scene. Meanwhile, the Comverse parking lot was used as a staging area for ambulances and tow trucks.
Sullivan praised Fire Captain Randy Hudson and the entire Fire Department shift for doing “an outstanding job triaging everyone and making sure that a chaotic scene didn’t get any worse.”
About an hour after the first accident, reports of another crash near Exit 42 came in. Fire crews from Melrose and Reading responded to that accident as Wakefield was still tied up at the original crash scene. Wakefield firefighters were there for over three hours, continuing to deal with debris cleanup and spilt vehicle fluids even after the injured were all taken care of.
Wakefield Police send five officers to the scene and State Police also responded.
Northbound traffic was backed up for miles and even Route 128 southbound traffic was backed up to Centennial drive in Peabody due to the curiosity factor of drivers slowing to look at the accident.
This morning’s crash on Route 128 may have been foreshadowed by multiple fender-benders around town during yesterday morning’s snowfall.
There was a two-car accident at Water and Vernon streets at about 10:45 a.m. followed by another reported crash at New Salem Street and Butler Avenue just before 11 a.m.
A three-vehicle crash between a trash truck and two cars just before noon yesterday at Prospect Street and North Avenue sent a 56-year-old woman to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
