Multi-vehicle crash snarls morning commute

ANDOVER, Mass. (WHDH) -- Five people were taken to local hospitals after a crash that snarled Monday morning’s commute.

A tractor trailer was involved in a five-vehicle crash on Interstate 495 southbound in Andover, just before the Interstate 93 interchange around 6 a.m. Monday.

The tractor trailer rear ended a van, causing a chain reaction, slamming into three cars ahead of them. The cars then spun out and the passenger of the van was ejected.

The trucks rear tires rolled onto the ejected passenger’s legs, pinning him under the truck, which weighs about five tons.

Police said they used air bags to raise the suspension of the tractor trailer to free him. The man, who is in his mid-40s and from New Hampshire, was brought to Lawrence General Hospital.

Police said they pulled the GPS unit from the tractor trailer to look at data, including the speed it was going at the time of the crash.

In total, five people were taken to two hospitals. The driver of the tractor trailer walked away without any real injuries.

There were initial reports that it was a seven-vehicle crash. Police said there was a minor two-car crash that happened before the five-vehicle crash. Officials are still investigating, but the two do not appear to be related.