SEEKONK — At least one person was reported to have died and several injured in accidents that shut down Interstate 195 Tuesday morning and afternoon.
Two vehicles caught fire following a crash about 1:15 p.m. on 1-195 West near Exit 1 and the Rhode Island line.
One vehicle was a box truck whose cab ignited in flames.
A medical examiner’s vehicle responded to the accident scene as is the case with fatal accidents.
Traffic was reported to have been backed up to Swansea.
A high-speed lane was opened up about 3:30 p.m.
East Providence, Swansea and Barrington firefighters assisted at the scene and staffed fire station headquarters.
In the morning, five people were injured in a seven-vehicle crash that tied up commuter traffic on I-195.
The accident was reported after 7 a.m., also near Exit 1, with vehicles strewn in multiple lanes and off the highway.
Westbound lanes were closed and the left lane eastbound was also shut down.
One of the vehicles was a rental box truck that went off the road into the woods, Massachusetts State Police said.
Four other vehicles were heavily damaged and also towed from the scene.
Five people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, police said.
MassDOT said all lanes were back open by 8:45 a.m.
The closure of one side of the Washington bridge on 1-195 in Providence has been jamming traffic for miles and contributing to accidents for months, but the latest accidents are under investigation.