Truck 'Storrows' in Sumner Tunnel during rush hour
BOSTON - The Sumner Tunnel was closed for more than two hours Friday night after a truck got stuck in the tunnel on Route 1A South during rush hour.
State Police headed to the scene when the call came in at 4:20 p.m. They said an over-height truck struck the tunnel's ceiling and became stuck in the tunnel.
While traffic was detoured through the Ted Williams Tunnel, those traveling in the tunnel at the time were stuck behind the truck.
"I saw two or three other people with their luggage walking up the center lane to exit the tunnel; I am like where do they think they are going?" said Larry Curtis. They were rideshare passengers, walking out on their drivers.
Curtis said his passengers stuck around and they had a good conversation.
"Normally should have been a $10 trip quickly through the tunnel to North Station; ended up 25, 26 bucks," Curtis said.
As the wait stretched, a row of cars started backing out in a single-file line.
Adam Khanboubi was one of them. He was on his way to a Celtics game and had no idea when he would get there.
"We don't have that much time with school and work and all that, so the holiday break was really a good time for the game. But now the tractor-trailer really wants to ruin it for us," he said.
Eventually, one lane opened, allowing cars to pass by the truck, and a tow truck arrived to bring the semi out of the tunnel. By 7 p.m., the Sumner Tunnel had reopened.
The driver, a 36-year-old man from Ontario whose name was not released, said he did not strike the ceiling. He was issued a citation by police.
The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section of the State Police is conducting an investigation. Since the truck hit the ceiling of the tunnel, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will inspect the tunnel for damage.