Friday was rough on the roads. If you were anywhere near the North Shore or trying to navigate the Pike, you already know that. Massachusetts roads are notoriously unforgiving, but yesterday felt particularly chaotic with a mix of icy patches, high-speed errors, and some truly bizarre incidents that kept first responders running across the state.
Honestly, looking at the list of car accidents in massachusetts yesterday, it’s a miracle more people weren't seriously hurt. We saw everything from cars flying off overpasses to vehicles landing in brooks. It wasn't just "winter driving" either—some of this was just plain bad luck or split-second mistakes that changed lives in an instant.
The Allston Overpass Crash: A Terrifying Drop
One of the most dramatic scenes happened right in the heart of the morning commute. In Allston, a truck didn't just slide; it went completely off a highway overpass.
Imagine driving along and suddenly seeing a vehicle plummet from the road above. Boston police confirmed that two people had to be rushed to the hospital after that one. It happened on Friday, January 16, and for a good portion of the day, that area was a total mess. When a vehicle leaves the elevated roadway like that, it's usually a combination of speed and a sudden loss of traction, though investigators are still looking into the exact mechanics of how it cleared the barrier.
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North Shore Chaos: Linebrook Road and Topsfield
If Allston was dramatic, the North Shore was just relentless. Linebrook Road basically turned into a graveyard for cars for a few hours.
It started around 2:12 p.m. when a single vehicle smacked into a tree. Then, literally nine minutes later, another car crashed on the same stretch of road. By 2:53 p.m., a town vehicle got involved in a third wreck near the Topsfield line. Police eventually had to just shut the whole road down so the Department of Public Works could salt the living daylights out of it.
Meanwhile, over on Topsfield Road in Ipswich, things took a turn toward the water. Around 11:40 a.m., a driver went through a front yard and plunged straight into Kimball Brook. The driver was reportedly struggling to breathe and was taken to Beverly Hospital. Watching a car get winched out of a creek isn't exactly how anyone wants to spend their Friday afternoon.
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Notable incidents from the Friday logs:
- I-93 South (Dorchester): A multi-car pileup left several people injured. One person is currently in serious condition. The State Police had to squeeze traffic down to a single lane, which backed up the Southeast Expressway for miles.
- Salem Hit-and-Run: This one is upsetting. Police are still hunting for a driver who allegedly hit a Salem police officer on Pope Street late Thursday night/early Friday morning. The officer was conscious, thankfully, but the driver took off into the night.
- Medway Fatal: We have to mention the tragedy on Summer Street. A single vehicle left the road, hit a residence at 26 Summer St., and burst into flames. Two incredibly brave bystanders actually pulled the driver out of the fire, but he later passed away at Milford Regional Medical Center.
Why the Roads Were So Lethal Yesterday
You’d think we’d be used to it by now, but the "flash freeze" effect is real. On Friday morning, several local departments, including Harvard and Ipswich, were reporting that roads looked fine but were actually skating rinks.
Black ice doesn't care how good your tires are.
We also saw a fair amount of "rubbernecking" delays. On I-95 North in Topsfield, a car fire around 10:40 a.m. didn't cause a massive pileup, but the smoke and the sight of flames coming from the engine bay caused a massive rubbernecking delay that stretched back toward Danvers. People slow down to look, someone taps their brakes, and suddenly you have a three-car chain reaction half a mile behind the original incident.
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What You Need to Do Now
If you were involved in one of these or just witnessed one, there are a few things that actually matter for your insurance or any potential legal follow-up.
First, if you were on Linebrook Road or any of those "trouble spots," check your dashcam footage. Even if you weren't hit, your footage might show the road conditions or the lead-up to someone else's accident. Local police often ask for this when they're reconstructing scenes.
Second, if you're driving today, remember that the "melt-and-refreeze" cycle is in full swing. Just because it’s 38 degrees at noon doesn't mean the shaded patches of the Pike aren't frozen solid by 5:00 p.m.
Practical Safety Steps
- Check your tire pressure: Cold snaps make your PSI drop, which ruins your traction on wet or icy pavement.
- Increase following distance: If you're on I-93 or Route 24, double the space you think you need. Yesterday's Dorchester crash was a classic example of not having enough room to react.
- Watch the overpasses: The Allston incident is a stark reminder that bridges freeze first. They lose heat from the top and the bottom.
The list of car accidents in massachusetts yesterday serves as a pretty grim reminder that our infrastructure is old, our weather is unpredictable, and our traffic volume is way too high for the margin of error we give ourselves. Stay safe out there and keep an eye on the local scanners if the clouds start looking grey again.
For those looking for official records or to file a report regarding any of these Friday incidents, you should contact the specific barracks of the Massachusetts State Police that covers the area (e.g., Troop H for Boston/Dorchester or Troop A for the North Shore) or the local municipal department in towns like Medway or Ipswich.