Icy conditions resulted in a treacherous commute for drivers Wednesday morning, with a 55-car pileup among a slew of crashes reported on highways across the region.
Northbound lanes at Route 128 northbound at Exit 29 in Wakefield, Massachusetts were shut down after more than 55 vehicles were involved in a major crash.
Eight people were taken to local hospitals for various injuries, but none was life-threatening. State police say about 30 vehicles were towed.
"Frankly it's a miracle. It's a lot of cars to be colliding," Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said.
While all lanes have since reopened on I-95 in Wakefield, state police are still urging drivers to avoid the area because of significant delays.
Nathan St. Onge was heading to work around 6 a.m. when he was overcome by slick conditions in Wakefield.
"When I tapped my brakes, it was just a sheet of ice and there's nothing I could really do after that. Everybody just started sliding into each other," St. Onge said.
U.S. & World
--> GET LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES IN OUR INTERACTIVE MAP <--
Multiple ramps on Interstate 93 and the Mass. Pike were shut down or at a complete standstill, and state police said that back road alternatives were also icy.
Just after 8 a.m., Governor Charlie Baker declared a two hour delay for non-emergency state employees as crews responded to icy road conditions and highway closures.
Newton fire officials responded to more than 12 accidents on Wednesday morning, including one involving a minor who was reportedly injured in an seven-car crash on Route 128.
In Methuen, 30 vehicles were involved in a major crash on on I-93 at 1-495 around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The crash has since been cleared.
In Melrose, police confirm a school bus carrying students was involved in a crash on Youle Street just before 7:30 a.m. No one was injured.
The Leverett Connector outbound was briefly shut down after a major crash. The northbound lane was closed on the Zakim Bridge and has since reopened.
Elliot Street Bridge has been shut down in Cambridge.
I-93 northbound has been hit with a seven-car pileup in Medford and a 10-car crash in Woburn.
At least four cars were involved in a crash on Interstate 495 northbound at West Main Street in Hopkinton.
An overturned tractor trailer is leaking fuel on the Mass Pike eastbound before Route 122 in Milbury. Several lanes have been reportedly closed.
At least nine cars are involved in crashes and spinouts on Route 128 near the Mass Pike in Weston. The northbound lane has been shut down north of I-93.
A spinout crash on Route 3 southbound at I-495 in Lowell is also causing delays.
Wellesley police reported multiple traffic crashes on Route 9 east near Cedar Street.
A 15-car pileup has been confirmed westbound on Storrow Drive, and the ramp has been shut down both ways at Charlesgate.
The Mass Ave bridge was shut down in both directions due to ice and accidents as well.
The Boston Police Department reports that there are over a dozen multi-car accidents involving 10 or more cars scattered all across the city. Officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads if possible.
Meanwhile, Boston Public Schools says its school buses may be late arriving to school Wednesday morning due to icy conditions.
