Boston, Massachusetts – Massachusetts State Police responded to a car fire in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel on Saturday morning, just hours after multiple vehicles went up in flames nearby. The incident took place around 9:30 a.m., and fortunately, there were no reported injuries. NewsCenter 5 reporter Ted Wayman captured images of the burnt vehicle, which was taken to the State Police Tunnels Barracks parking lot on Massport Haul Road.
This latest car fire occurred in the same area where multiple vehicles caught fire in the tunnel ramp approaching the eastbound side of the Ted Williams Tunnel the day before. The Boston Fire Department confirmed that three vehicles were involved in a crash inside the tunnel connection near the Ted Williams Tunnel on Friday afternoon, leading to a fire. Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs before people frantically fled their vehicles as flames engulfed them.
Shaunna Lai, a witness to the chaos, described the scene of people running out of their cars, urging others to evacuate as she and her family made their way out of the tunnel. The tunnel was soon filled with smoke, prompting even more people to escape to safety. Firefighters worked swiftly to put out the flames that consumed the vehicles, with Deputy Fire Chief James Greene mentioning that six individuals were inside the cars, three of whom required hospitalization.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation temporarily closed off-ramps from I-93 north to I-90 east for inspection of the pavement and other roadway assets for necessary repairs after the fire. Thankfully, the ramps were reopened to traffic later that evening. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the car fires and are taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of all tunnel users.