Overturned truck closes Long Island Expressway in Melville for hours
An overturned tractor trailer partially closed the westbound Long Island Expressway at Exit 49 for more than five hours during Thursday morning's rush hour, the state Department of Transportation said.
All lanes reopened shortly before 11:30 a.m. Thursday, according to informny.com, the department's website.
Police said the accident happened when a load of lead bricks being carried in the back shifted, causing the truck to overturn.
The agency posted an alert about the accident and all lanes being closed in Melville shortly before 6 a.m.
At about 8 a.m., the high-occupancy-vehicle and left lanes were reopened to traffic, according to the site. At about 10 a.m., only the right lane was closed, but the exit ramp remained closed, the site said.
A Suffolk County police spokeswoman said preliminary reports indicate the driver of the truck got out safely and there were no serious injuries.
Cameras at informny.com showed the overturned truck close to Exit 49 at Route 110.
Cameras show traffic backed up in the westbound lanes of the LIE east of Exit 50 after police say a tractor-trailer overturned on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Credit: NYSDOT
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
