New Jersey drivers were treated to an early fireworks display when a fire sparked an accidental sendoff of pyrotechnics into the sky and closed a busy highway.
A tractor-trailer loaded up with fireworks was traveling down I-287 late Sunday night when the Independence Day supplies were unexpectedly launched.
New Jersey State Police responded to the scene around 10:30 p.m. in Bridgewater Township, where traffic sat bumper-to-bumper while the colorful explosions painted the sky.
The driver of the rig saw a dolly tire had caught fire, Trooper Charles Marchan said Monday. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
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The cleanup was extensive. All lanes were closed late Sunday, and at least one was still cordoned off to traffic into Monday afternoon as crews worked to cleared the scene.
