Mass. Pike westbound closed due to serious crash in Palmer
This story was updated at 4:44 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2025 with new information .
At least one person was seriously injured when a vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer Thursday afternoon, Massachusetts State Police said.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation first reported the crash on X just before 2:45 p.m.
"Preliminary information indicates a vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer, resulting in serious injuries and entrapment," Tim McGuirk, a spokesman for State Police, wrote in an email.
The crash forced the close of the highway in both directions at mile marker 64.5 for about two hours. The closure was to allow a medical helicopter to land on the highway safely, State Police said.
The eastbound side of the highway reopened just before 4:45 p.m.
Westbound traffic is being detoured via exit 78 in Sturbrige, MassDOT wrote on X .
No further information was immediately available.
