Major pileup erupts along stretch of I-95 in Maine during early morning commute

By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather staff writer

Updated Jan. 7, 2020 2:59 PM

A multi-vehicle accident involving as many as 30 vehicles shut down a stretch of Interstate 95 near Carmel, Maine, around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.

The Maine State Police initially said 50-60 vehicles were reportedly involved but later revised the number to 30. Several hundred motorists were left stranded as a result of the chain-reaction crash.

(Photo from Maine Forest Service Helicopter, courtesy of the Maine Forest Rangers)

Northbound lanes of I-95 were closed for several hours; however, the roadway eventually reopened after 12 p.m., the Maine Department of Transportation said on Twitter.

Injuries have been reported and emergency responders are on the scene. One of the injuries is said to be serious and the victim was transported by a Life Flight helicopter to a hospital in Bangor, located about 16 miles east of Carmel.

"Initial reports say blinding sun may have caused the first crash about 7:45 a.m., and then several other vehicles collided in a chain reaction," the police said in a statement.

An aerial photo showing a stretch of Interstate 95 in Maine where a pileup involving at least 30 vehicles occurred early Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, 2020. Maine State Police, along with the Maine Forest Rangers, were on the scene assisting injured and stranded motorists. (Twitter / Maine Forest Rangers)

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker said about 1-2 inches of snow fell across the region Monday night, but the snow had concluded by midnight.

"The skies were partly cloudy after the snow ended. Sunrise was at 7:13 a.m and the sun glare off a treated wet or possibly icy road surface may have contributed to the accident," Walker said.

State troopers and a team of road crew members are on the scene working to remove the wrecked vehicles from the highway.