Fatal crash sparks fire on major Connecticut highway bridge

A crash involving a fuel truck and a car sparked a fire on a major Connecticut highway bridge Friday, with flames spreading to land on one side and officials closing Interstate 95 in both directions during the blaze. Officials said the truck driver died and other people were injured.

The wreck happened shortly after 11 a.m. on the southbound side of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge carrying the highway over the Thames River between New London and Groton. The Gold Star actually comprises two bridges, one for southbound traffic and the other for northbound.

The northbound side has since reopened.

Videos from the scene showed flames burning and smoke rising from a lengthy section of the bridge and spreading to land on the Groton side. Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick said flaming debris fell from the bridge and caused brush fires below, but no one on the ground there was injured. He also said no buildings caught on fire, conflicting with early reports by state police.

New London's mayor and fire chief told news outlets that the truck driver died in the crash and other people were taken to a hospital with unknown injuries. The state Department of Transportation confirmed there was a fatality.

The crash caused a major traffic backup and threatened long-term disruptions on that stretch of Interstate 95, the main north-south artery on the East Coast. The closest bridge over the Thames River is about 11 miles (18 kilometers) to the north, creating a long detour.