Published in the May 17, 2018 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — Traffic was snarled in all directions Monday afternoon on Route 28 after an over height tractor-trailer unit partially ripped down the traffic lights that are suspended over the North and Main Street intersection.

The incident, which remained under investigation by the North Reading Police Department at press time, affected commuters along the Route 28 corridor as well as on the roads feeding into and off of Route 28 for hours.

According to Police Chief Michael Murphy multiple detours were necessary because “the lights were unsecured and in danger of falling to the roadway.”

THE OPERATOR of this tractor-trailer unit, whose load was 20 inches over the maximum allowable height of 13’6” to travel unescorted over local roads, is facing multiple traffic violations after the truck partially pulled down the traffic lights that criss-cross the North and Main Street intersection Monday.(Al Pereira/Advanced Photo)

“The intersection and all roads leading to it had to be shut down until just after midnight,” Murphy stated. “Andover Police assisted in shutting down the southbound traffic from Andover and Route 125.”

“We blocked and detoured Route 28 north, Route 62, as well as North Street in both directions. We also blocked or detoured many side streets,” the chief explained.

Murphy told the Transcript that the operator, David Hill, 60, was driving a tractor-trailer unit owned by Bay Crane Northeast, LLC, of Smithfield, R.I., southbound on Route 28 that was 15 feet, 2 inches in height. He stated that trucks taller than 13 feet, 6 inches in height need an escort and a permit to travel over the roads.

“There was no escort and no permit to move this specific over height load,” Murphy stated.

He added that the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Truck Team responded to the scene to aid in the investigation.

“They cited (Hill) for Ch. 90-19: over height restrictions 13’6” (actual 15’2”), and CH 90-19: no permit to move over dimensional load,” Murphy said.

In addition, North Reading Police will issue a court summons to Hill for driving to endanger (Ch. 90-S24). No other vehicles were involved, he said.

“It is my understanding that this same operator had hit some traffic signals in North Andover prior to traveling here,” Murphy added.