BOSTON — A woman riding in a ride-share car got out in the middle of the O'Neill Tunnel on I-93 southbound before she was hit by a passing car, according to police.
Traffic on I-93 southbound backed up north of Boston Monday morning after the crash in the tunnel left the 29-year-old woman with serious injuries, according to Massachusetts State Police.
Around 8 a.m. Monday morning, Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jacqueline Goddard tweeted about traffic backing up due to a person in the roadway near Purchase Street.
Shortly afterward, the State Police tweeted about a crash with serious injuries near the Purchase Street exit.
The woman was taken to Tufts Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, according to police.
#MAtraffic 93 S/B in the O'Neill tunnel near x23 in #Boston, 2 middle lanes closed due to serious injury crash. Expect delays.
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 30, 2019
@MassDOT we deserve an explanation as to why this was planned for Monday morning rush hour #dobetter pic.twitter.com/IGlktn2tYs
— Jacob Steele (@207Steele) September 30, 2019
According to police, the driver, a 27-year-old woman, told investigators she was driving the victim to her home in Mattapan from the airport. However, she told police the woman got out of the car inside the tunnel just before exit 23.
Police say she was then hit by a Jeep driven by a 31-year-old man from Charlestown.
She was rushed to the hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
Boston 25 News reached out to Uber for comment. They tell us, "This trip didn't occur on their platform."
NEW: @MassStatePolice say the 29yo woman struck by a car inside the O’Neill tunnel this AM had been picked up by @Uber at Logan, the driver traveled down 93 SB before the victim abruptly got out of the car inside the tunnel just before exit 23 @boston25
— Julie Leonardi (@JulieLeonardiTV) September 30, 2019
What caused the woman to get out of the car in the middle of the busy tunnel remains unknown. Due to the severity of her injuries, there's a chance investigators have not heard her side of the story.
The man driving the Jeep and the 27-year-old driver of the car the victim was in both stayed on scene.
Police still have not made it clear why this woman abruptly exited the moving car in such a dangerous place.
Editor's note: This story previously listed the victim as being taken to Massachusetts General Hospital. It was later learned from police that she was taken instead to Tufts Medical Center. The story has been corrected.
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