Governor: "Situation" impacting thousands on east coast from CT fire and highway closure
State Police: No enforcement action has been taken at this time. This is an ongoing investigation.
Connecticut's law enforcement agencies are on high alert after a three-vehicle crash caused a massive fire, impacting travel and life along the east coast. (Watch the video below for more context.)
Gov. Lamont was asked to describe the economic impact (that he wrote would impact the entire eastern seaboard). The governor shrugged and said “Thank God it’s Friday.”
“I (have) declared a state of emergency in response to the damage that was caused to I-95 in Norwalk (on Thursday morning). This declaration will help expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond to this situation,” Governor Ned Lamont said on X (Twitter).
The CT State Police's specialized Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad (CARS) has been mobilized to investigate, Colonel Daniel Loughman said at a press conference. Loughman was promoted to that position less than a month ago but has been a trooper for many years, according to reports.
Connecticut State Police have not said if they’re working with any federal agencies but announced several state agency “partners” and contractors at the recent press conferences. The involvement of the CARS underscores the complex and serious nature of the investigation, as the unit is trained to handle intricate cases involving potential large-scale consequences.
In response to the incident, Senator Richard Blumenthal, the senior Democrat from CT, said federal money will pay for repairs. Major transportation hubs and critical infrastructure, such as bridges, are highlighted as possible terrorism targets by the Department of Homeland Security.
The objective is to prevent any disruptions and ensure the safety of the public. Loughman urged the public to be patient and report any suspicious activity, such as road rage, to law enforcement immediately.
Stay tuned for further updates as new information becomes available.
Cops & Congress commentary
Transportation infrastructure is raising concerns about the safety and security for thousands of individuals. Someone close to me was in traffic for FIVE HOURS to go less than 20 miles on Thursday. Cell phone lines were jammed, he couldn’t call his wife.
It was reported that three vehicles were involved: A car hit a truck which hit another truck carrying gasoline, creating a huge fire underneath a bridge overpass. The bridge is being removed, with an anticipated road re-opening by Sunday night.
If officials could remove a bridge that quickly it now shows a legal precedent to argue that there shouldn’t be delays for every other transportation project in CT.
I have many unanswered questions.
When will the Connecticut State Police release the report?
Why doesn’t the CT Dept. of Transportation CTroads.org record and archive their footage?
If a crime occurs on state roads does that mean that law enforcement has no idea since it’s not recorded?
How much are taxpayers paying for cameras that don’t record?
Was this an accident? Was it on purpose? Was it terrorism? Bridges are critical infrastructure.
What are lawmakers, officials, and law enforcement doing to prevent another “situation” like this?
What are lessons learned to share with other states?
How vulnerable are our nation’s bridges?
What would have happened if there were multiple “situations” at the same time, impacting travel on more roads?
Senator Richard Blumenthal said the federal government is paying for this. How much will it cost?
Situational awareness: An exclusive, or scoop, is an important news story that is first reported by a journalist. This goes a step beyond breaking news when no other journalists are known to be reporting on an important issue.
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