WASHINGTON – All lanes of the Capital Beltway’s Inner Loop at Old Georgetown Road have reopened after two tractor-trailer accidents early Friday.
Authorities completely opened the lanes at 10 a.m., roughly nine hours after the first accident and 5 1/2 hours after the second accident.
The first tractor-trailer, which was hauling kitchen cabinets, hit the guardrail and jackknifed around 1 a.m., according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Maryland State Police say as the truck was being removed its fuel tank ruptured.
As the second tractor-trailer approached the first accident scene, police say it then jackknifed. That happened around 4:40 a.m. between Old Georgetown Road and Md. 355.
The fuel tank of the second tractor-trailer, which was hauling building materials, also ruptured.
Police say nobody was hurt, but some drivers spent more than three hours stuck between Old Georgetown Road and Md. 355 as they waited for the highway to partially reopen. When it did, authorities had to wake up some of the drivers.
While there were delays, the situation could have been far worse had school been in session.
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