A serious overnight crash involving multiple vehicles and a tractor-trailer fire shut down the I-270 express lanes near Montrose Road, sending several people to area hospitals and prompting a lengthy hazardous materials response.
According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Captain Franco Martinez, the incident was reported around 12:36am on southbound I-270 in the express lanes just before the Montrose Road exit. Multiple vehicles were involved, including a tractor-trailer that caught fire, leading to the closure of all northbound and southbound express lanes.
By 1:19am, Martinez said several patients had been transported to local hospitals while Haz-Mat crews continued working at the scene because of a fuel leak connected to the tractor-trailer fire.
The Maryland State Highway Administration later reported at 1:54am that all northbound and southbound through lanes at Exit 4 for MD 927 Montrose Road were closed, while local lanes remained open in both directions.
At 2:01am, MCFRS chief spokesperson Pete Piringer said the crash occurred on southbound I-270 between Route 28 and Montrose Road and involved a tractor-trailer and several other vehicles. He said the tractor-trailer caught fire, a fuel spill was reported, and four patients were transported by emergency medical crews. Haz-Mat personnel remained on scene alongside the Maryland State Highway Administration and Maryland State Police.
