HARTFORD -- The driver of a tractor-trailer that overturned and blocked traffic for hours Tuesday, was charged in the accident.
The accident happened on Interstate 91 South near Exit 27 in Hartford shortly before 10 a.m. State Police said the operator, Ralph Perry, 56, of East Orange New Jersey, was charged with failure to drive in proper lane, traveling unreasonably fast, and failure to pay annual filing fees.
Connecticut State Police said Perry suffered minor injury when he lost control of the truck.
Perry said he's sorry to those drivers stuck on the highway. He has been driving big rigs the past 5 years.
He also explained to FOX61 exclusively, once I-91 widened into 3 lanes, he was trying to get over to the right and he lost control.
Perry was released from the hospital with injuries to his neck and shoulder.
A friend from home had to buy him a Peter Pan bus ticket, because all his money is still inside that truck.
State police said the truck was carrying bottled water.
Vinko Ivankovic, a truck driver, was stuck for 4 hours. "Usually, whenever there’s an accident or something, you can be 45 minutes delayed, maybe an hour 15 minutes, but this has been like, 300% percent, been like 3 hours 45 minutes."
“We almost ran out of gas, so before we ran out of gas on the highway, we came here.” said Jestina Hays, who was stuck in traffic.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection were called in to deal with fuel that was spilled in the accident, according to state police.