Jack-Knifed Tractor-Trailer Closes Right Lane Of I-84 East In Vernon, One Of Many Such Accidents On CT Highways

I-84 eastbound traffic slowed this morning around 7:00 due to a jack-knifed tractor-trailer closing the right lane. Miraculously, no serious injuries resulted, and no other motor vehicles were involved in the crash.Friday’s storm, the first of the season, dumped more snow throughout Connecticut than originally forecasted. Fast accumulation overnight created road conditions contributing to multiple tractor-trailer crashes affecting eastern Connecticut highways.

Other tractor-trailer accidents – a multiple crash in Greenwich, one on I-95 in Fairfield and one in Norwalk, and a rollover in Mystic – also resulted in lane closures, but involved no other vehicles and no serious injuries were reported to state police.

Tractor-trailers do not do well in slippery conditions. The slightest swerve or quick braking can cause trucks to jack-knife. Professional drivers cite other drivers’ dangerous lane-changing as a frequent contributing factor of jack-knife accidents.

Connecticut winter weather is unpredictable. If you must drive, remember to take extra care during storm conditions and provide ample space between vehicles.