Truck stuck under Westwood bridge suspends commuter rail service

WESTWOOD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A box truck that got stuck and caught fire under the East Street bridge caused issues for commuters in the area.

At around 4:50 a.m. Tuesday, a 13-foot Ryder truck operated by a man from Portland, M.E. got stuck under the bridge, which has a clearance of 10'6".

The truck caught fire, and by 5 a.m., a large plume of smoke could be seen in sections of across Route 1 in sections of Westwood and into parts of  Dedham. The fire started in the truck's air conditioner compressor, located near the truck's roof, firefighters determined.

The flames had been extinguished by 6 a.m., though hazy smoke remained in the area.

Police closed East Street from Strafford Road to Carroll Avenue in Westwood. Additionally, officials were investigating the structural integrity of the bridge, which impacted commuter rail service in the area.

The Franklin line commuter rail service was suspended until after 8 a.m., and buses were replacing some service at the Norwood Central station. The 8:45 a.m. train was running approximately 20 minutes late, and commuters were told to expect delays throughout the morning.

The truck was carrying seafood. As a result of the crash, some of the truck's cargo spilled out behind it, and multiple lobsters could be seen on top of boxes. It was not immediately clear where the truck was heading. The town's Board of Health was notified about the truck's contents.

Tuesday's crash was the second in as many days at the bridge. Another large truck attempted to pass under the bridge Monday morning at around 9 a.m. That truck did not catch fire, but the truck's roof and sides were ripped from the bed of the truck.

Cox Media Group