Chain-reaction pileup snarls turnpike traffic

SCARBOROUGH – Traffic was backed up for miles on the Maine Turnpike after a chain-reaction accident involving more than 15 vehicles late Friday afternoon.

Maine State Police said about 15 cars and four tractor-trailers were involved in the accident, according to Maine Turnpike Authority spokes-man Dan Paradee.

While several people were taken to hospitals for minor injuries, no major injuries were reported, he said.

Northbound traffic came to a halt and was backed up for about 10 miles, past the Saco interchange to the south. The southbound traffic slowed to a crawl with a backup of about four miles to the north, Paradee said.

The northbound lanes were opened to traffic shortly before 6 p.m.

The highway was wet from a passing storm, but it wasn’t known if the accident was weather-related.

“As far as we know, 12 of the cars had to be towed, and three tractor-trailers have to be towed,” Paradee said.