Accidents in Waterford snarl traffic

Waterford - A pair of accidents resulted in one minor injury and a lot of knotted traffic Tuesday evening.

Police said a tractor-trailer jackknifed during rush hour on Route 32 at the entrance to Interstate 395. The driver was able to prevent the truck from tipping over, but the 4 p.m. p.m. accident caused one of the gas tanks to rupture, causing a diesel spill on the highway.

State police and the Department of Environmental Protection assisted at the scene while the fuel was cleaned up and the trailer cleared from the roadway. Traffic was stalled temporarily, and then slowed for more than two hours. Old Norwich Road also became congested with detouring motorists. The scene was cleared at 6:30.

Just about 40 minutes later, at 7:07 p.m., two vehicles collided on Route 85 at the entrance to the northbound lanes of Interstate 95. Police said one woman was taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital complaining of pain to her neck, back and legs. She was the lone occupant of her vehicle. Police said there were two people in a pickup. Neither was inured.

Police because the collision happened in the middle of the intersection, Route 85 was closed in both directions for about a half-hour. The scene was completely cleared by 8 p.m.