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Crash Sends Tractor-Trailer Off I-84

Authorities Close Interstate 84 In Tolland For Hours

POSTED: 11:31 am EDT April 23, 2008
UPDATED: 2:19 pm EDT April 23, 2008

A tractor-trailer and a car collided on Interstate 84, sending the truck down an embankment on Wednesday morning.

Interstate 84 reopened later in the morning after authorities closed the highway in both directions between exits 67 and 68.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Heather Hegedus reported the force of the crash sheared off the tractor-trailer's roof.

Both drivers survived the collision, including the tractor-trailer's driver, Timothy Inocente, 39, and the car's driver Stephanie Houman, 20.

LIFE STAR helicopter transported the truck's driver to an area hospital. Houman has since been released from an area hospital.

State police said Houman and Incente both tried to merge into the center lane at the same time and didn't see each other. Rescue crews spent about a half-hour trying to get Inocente out of his truck because his leg was trapped under the dashboard.

Hegedus reported the four-mile stretch of I-84 is very familiar to Tolland firefighter Dennis Carlson. In his 18-year career, Carlson said he estimates he has responded to that part of the highway for accidents at least once a month.

Connecticut Department of Transportation figures indicate 74 accidents were reported from the same area in 2003. In 2004, there were 62 accidents, in 2005, there were 75 accidents and in 206, there were 64 accidents, one of which involved a fatality.

Authorities said the top reason for the accidents was speeding, followed by drivers losing of control of their vehicles and improper lane changes.

Refresh this story and watch Eyewitness News for the latest updates.

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