TOWN OF KENT – A multi-vehicle crash on eastbound I-84 in Kent Tuesday involving a large dump truck and six passenger vehicles closed the heavily traveled road for most of the day between the Route 311 and Ludingtonville Road exits.
The crash took place around 11:30 a.m. when the truck went out of control and overturned dumping its load along the highway and shoulder of the interstate.
Nine-one-one calls reporting a ‘major’ crash alerted the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services which declared a mass casualty incident.
State Police Troop K Public Information Officer Trooper A.J. Hicks said six people were injured and transported by ambulances to Danbury Hospital where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Kent PD Chief Kevin Owens called the injured, “fortunate. When I pulled up to the scene and observed the carnage I feared the worst.”
Members of the Lake Carmel, Patterson, Carmel, Putnam Lake and Kent Fire Departments rushed to the scene with ambulances and rescue vehicles.
Putnam County Emergency Services Director Robert Cuomo also responded along with Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services Ralph Falloon and Battalion 12 Coordinator Vincent Fanelli.
State Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department personnel, Kent Police and paramedics from the Empress Ambulance Company also assisted.
The interstate reopened to traffic some six hours later.
