A terrifying crash between two tractor-trailers turned part of the New Jersey Turnpike into a wall of fire early Thursday, leaving commuters trapped in miles of traffic as smoke poured from the wreckage.
The collision happened in Carteret, New Jersey, about 20 miles from New York City. Reports placed the crash in the early morning hours, with the trucks colliding before the morning rush and bursting into flames on the northbound side of the Turnpike.
According to WABC, one of the trucks was carrying wood, adding to the intensity of the fire.
The blaze broke out near Interchange 12 and shut down the northbound side of the Turnpike’s inner roadway. Flames could be seen shooting from the trucks as firefighters rushed to the scene and worked to bring the fire under control.
By the time the flames were knocked down, thick smoke was still billowing from the mangled wreckage.
Traffic quickly turned into a commuter nightmare.
The northbound side was brought to a standstill near the crash scene for more than an hour, while backups stretched for miles. Fox 5 reported delays of up to 11 miles, with northbound traffic being moved to the outer roadway as crews worked at the scene.
Southbound drivers were also caught in the chaos. A lane near the crash site was closed, and rubbernecking caused more severe delays as motorists slowed down to look at the burned wreckage.
Drivers headed south faced delays stretching several miles back toward Interchange 13.
News 12 reported that the trailer ended up in the car lanes, not the truck lanes, making the morning mess even worse for regular commuters trying to get through the area.
Authorities have not yet said what caused the crash or the fire.
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There was no immediate word on the condition of the drivers, and officials have not released details about any injuries.
The wreck forced a massive emergency response and left one of the busiest highways in the region snarled for hours as crews worked to clear the burned-out trucks and reopen lanes.
