Mattapoisett highway fire destroys pickup truck

Feb 25, 2016

Officials are investigating what caused a 2015 GMC to burst into flames while the driver was traveling on I-195 Thursday morning.

Mattapoisett Fire Chief Andy Murray said the truck was fully involved when crews arrived on the scene at 9:39 a.m.

He said the driver, a man from Somerset, escaped without injury. Crews used a fire suppressant foam on the blaze due to the truck’s fuel line melting. Murray said between 25 to 30 gallons of gasoline spilled onto the highway.

“We had to notify the [Department of Environmental Protection] for the fuel spill. They will hire a contractor to remediate the area,” Murray said.

Two fire engines and one rescue truck responded to the accident, which was cleared at 11:16 a.m.

Crews remained on the scene until the fuel had stopped leaking and the truck could be safely towed.

At lease one lane of I-195 eastbound was closed for about two hours causing traffic delays. The accident occurred near the Crystal Spring overpass, approximately a half mile from the Mattapoisett exit.