Fatal crash sparks fire on Connecticut bridge

A crash involving a fuel truck and a car sparked a fire on a major Connecticut highway bridge Friday, with flames spreading to buildings below and officials closing Interstate 95 in both directions during the blaze.

The wreck happened shortly after 11 a.m. on the southbound side of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge. The Gold Star comprises two bridges, one for southbound traffic and the other for northbound.

New London's mayor and fire chief told news outlets that the truck driver died in the crash and other people were taken to a hospital with unknown injuries.

The crash caused a major traffic backup and threatened long-term disruptions on that stretch of Interstate 95, the main north-south artery on the East Coast.The cause of the accident was under investigation.