Tractor-Tractor Rollover on Rt 1 in Peabody Clogs Traffic for Hours

Motorists heading down Route 1 South were advised to avoid the area Monday afternoon due to an overturned tractor-trailer in the middle of the highway at the jughandle in Peabody.

The leftmost lane on the northbound side of the highway and two lanes on the southbound side were closed to traffic for more than three hours as emergency response crews worked at the scene before the truck was eventually towed away.

Detours were put in place at Lowell Street (heading south) and also at the on-ramp onto Route 1 South from Route 114 in Danvers. The on-ramp from I-95 onto the southbound side of the highway was also closed temporarily.

The accident was first reported around 1:45 p.m. and numerous Peabody officers, state police, firefighters, state highway workers and tow operators responded to the scene. It was initially unclear how long it might take to remove the vehicle.

The truck was a 22-wheeler and was found lying on its side after attempting to turn onto Route 1 South from the turnaround on the northbound side (the jughandle). What looked to be trash and debris had spilled out from the bed of the rig.

Police and fire officials at the scene said the driver was unhurt and was able to exit the vehicle on his own. An undetermined amount of gasoline did leak onto the roadway, which firefighters used bags of SpeedyDry to absorb.

Peabody police issued an alert around 3 p.m. that the southbound side of the highway from Lowell Street down would be closed until further notice, but at 5 p.m. they released an update, saying both sides of the highway were back open. The jughandle remained closed until about 7 p.m.