Loose metal joint on Interstate 95 disables 25 cars

As if yesterday's heavy rain did not make Interstate 95 hazardous enough, a piece of a metal joint came loose from the concrete in the southbound lanes of the highway and disabled about 25 cars near the Route 32 exit, state police said.

No one was seriously injured, and there were no crashes, said Trooper Anthony Williams of the Waterloo barracks.

Williams said a jagged shard of metal about 4 inches thick and 3 feet long came loose about 3 p.m. and stood about 6 inches into the air on the second lane from the left.

The piece of metal punctured the rear left tires of the majority of cars involved. Many of the remaining cars were disabled after striking the metal because the vehicles' computer systems interpreted the blow as an accident and automatically cut off fuel flowing to the engine, Williams said.

The lane was shut down for almost three hours as road crews tore out the piece of metal and replaced it with tar-like material, Williams said.

Pub Date: 3/03/97