I-89 Northbound Opens After Pepsi Delivery Truck Falls from Bridge in Richmond

The northbound lane of Interstate 89 was reopened on Friday morning following an incident involving a tractor-trailer transporting Pepsi products that plummeted from a bridge.

In Richmond, Vermont, the northbound lane of Interstate 89 was reopened on Friday morning following an incident involving a tractor-trailer transporting Pepsi products that plummeted from a bridge. This accident occurred shortly before 5:30 a.m. and resulted in extensive traffic delays, lasting several hours.

Initial reports indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle, which subsequently collided with a guardrail and then a barrier on the bridge. The front section of the truck came to rest on the road, while the trailer dangled off the edge. Crews responding to the scene noted the presence of smoke and an oil odor as they worked to manage the situation. The impact of the crash was severe enough to split the truck in two, causing soda cans to scatter over the bridge area.

Emergency personnel confirmed that the driver emerged with what appeared to be only minor injuries, thanks to the guardrail that prevented the tractor unit from proceeding off the roadway. As traffic was halted, some bystanders, like Mark Keffer from Montpelier, expressed frustration over the delays. Having been stuck on the road since approximately 5:20 a.m., Keffer chose to walk toward the scene to assess the situation, relieved it was not more catastrophic than it initially seemed.

The Richmond Fire Captain reported that efforts were in place to contain the spill and prevent oil from escaping onto the roadway. However, the recovery of the damaged truck required considerable time and resources, as crews worked to lift it onto a flatbed truck and clean up the scattered debris. This included recovering numerous Pepsi cans that were littered across the road and underneath the bridge structure.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash as cleanup operations progress, with repairs to the damaged guardrail also on the agenda.