Traffic Stalled in Snail Spill

Traffic slowed to a crawl for more than seven hours.

A freightliner tractor-trailer carrying a load of sea snails crashed on I-95 in Maine on Thursday morning, slowing traffic for more than seven hours.

Maine State Trooper Kyle Willette told the Bangor Daily News that the cause of the accident is still under investigation.

“It struck the built-up crossover and vaulted into the air a short distance before coming to rest on the other side of the crossover," Willette said.

The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being taken to the hospital, Bangor Daily News reported.

After the accident, I-95's Exit 161 required a massive cleanup. Personnel and equipment from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Clean Harbors cleanup company, the Maine Department of Agriculture and Bouchard’s Towing service were all needed to clear the median and shoulder lanes, which were filled with welks, a small sea snail.

That left one lane available for drivers from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., according to Willette.

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