Driver dies, northbound I-95 shut down Tuesday after fiery crash in Harford County

A pickup driver died Tuesday morning after crashing into a tractor-trailer that was parked on Interstate 95 in Harford County, causing a fire that shut down the highway for hours, according to Maryland State Police.

Troopers responded at 6:30 a.m. to northbound I-95 near the Maryland House Travel Plaza and found the pickup truck, which had crashed into the tractor-trailer and caught fire, police said. The pickup truck’s driver, whom police did not immediately identify, died at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The fire engulfed both vehicles, causing northbound lanes of the interstate near Exit 80 to close throughout rush hour and into the afternoon as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

Harford County hazmat technicians responded, along with the Maryland Department of the Environment’s emergency response team, due to lithium-ion batteries onboard the blazing tractor-trailer. The batteries were determined not to be a threat to the environment, MDE spokesperson Jay Apperson said, as they appeared to be “components of items such as watches and toys, as opposed to a large shipment of batteries alone.”

Environmental response crews stayed on the scene, to ensure that firefighting foam was properly cleaned up, Apperson said.

The Maryland Transportation Authority said around 1:25 p.m. that the scene was cleared and all lanes were reopened.