(RNN) – A crash involving more than 20 vehicles on a highway outside of Washington, DC in Maryland injured multiple people. The crash closed southbound lanes heading into the city for about two hours.
Officials declared the accident on I-270 south a mass casualty incident. The Montgomery County Fire Department said medics treated more than two dozen people and taken four to the hospital. Two of those patients are in serious condition.
After 5 a.m. ET Monday, a tractor-trailer carrying stones and gravel crashed and lost its load. Other cars could not avoid the truck, leading to a chain reaction crash.
Heavy equipment was brought in to push the gravel and slate to the side of the road, and all lanes are now open.
I-270 carries about 200,000 vehicles a day, according to the Washington Post.
UPDATE - MCFRS Media Info Tapeline 240.777.2442, update early morning I270 multi-vehicle collision, 8a most SB lanes reopened pic.twitter.com/VHX2Ddz1HV
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) March 19, 2018
Accident cleanup closes all lanes of SB I-270 at Middlebrook Rd (Exit 13). Expect significant delays. Seek alternate route. #mdtraffic pic.twitter.com/DyWHMz1C7Q
— MC Emergency Mgmt (@ReadyMontgomery) March 19, 2018
Some traffic getting by now Sb 270 btwn 118 & 124 #MDtraffic #SkyTrak7 #GMW pic.twitter.com/Vel529xGDY
— Julie Wright (@thejuliewright) March 19, 2018
CLOSED Sb 270 btwn 118 & 124 Tractor trailer & multiple vehicles involved #MDtraffic #SkyTrak7 #GMW pic.twitter.com/etl3EoLgTR
— Julie Wright (@thejuliewright) March 19, 2018
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