Tractor-Trailer Driver Hospitalized, Cited After Crash Under Bridge

A tractor-trailer caused a traffic jam Friday morning after it got stuck under a low clearance bridge in Westwood, Massachusetts.

The crash was reported before 7:30 a.m. at the East Street Bridge, according to fire officials. As a result of the incident, East Street was closed in both directions while authorities worked to extricate the vehicle. It was reopened at 8:55 a.m.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to an area hospital for minor injuries, according to Westwood police. They were later cited for the crash.

Authorities did not release the identity of the driver. No other injuries were reported.

The East Street Bridge is infamous for causing similar crashes in the past. Dozens of crashes have been reported there in the past decade.

The bridge's low clearance was increased to 12 feet from its original 10 feet 6 inches. However, drivers have still failed to notice the height.

Officials are planning to lower the road to make the new height 13 feet, six inches.

Ohio's opioid crisis is stretching the state's foster care system as more and more children are removed from the homes of their drug-addicted parents, leading to ballot requests Tuesday for more funding. Not only do more children require foster care, they increasingly have mental health problems because of trauma they've experienced living in chaotic, drug-filled households, children service leaders say. Kids also are staying in foster care longer because it takes additional time for opioid users to kick the habit. Making things worse, it's grown harder to find extended family members to take children in because so many adults are addicted.