State police in Northampton reported a flurry of accidents on I-91from about 9 to 11:30 a.m.
NORTHAMPTON - A woman and her baby boy, southbound on Interstate 91, escaped injury Thursday morning when a tractor trailer truck lost control on the slick roadway and pinned their car against a fence.
“Luckily they weren’t hurt, just shook up a little,” said State Trooper Sandra Habel, who is attached to the Northampton barracks. The accident occurred about 9 a.m. near Exit 20 which is in the area of the Big Y shopping center.
The baby, in a rear-facing car seat, “was fine,” Habel said, adding that the car had to be towed away and the tractor trailer had to be pulled out.
Although state police here reported decent road conditions as the morning commute got underway, the rain switched over to sleet and freezing rain at about 8 a.m. and troopers responded to at least 8 accidents and numerous spinouts for the next 90 minutes, Habel said.
Habel, speaking shortly before noon, said the sleet has since changed back over to rain and that things had quieted down a bit.
State police on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westfield also reported numerous spinouts and minor crashes throughout the morning. The speed limit on the turnpike remained posted at 40 mph as of about noon and tandem-trailers and tankers are prohibited.
State police also reported some late morning spinouts and crashes on Route 2 in the Athol/Westminster area.