A major multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 291 in South Windsor, Connecticut, caused significant traffic disruption Monday morning, August 31, 2026, after eight vehicles collided near Exit 2.
The crash happened around 7:45 a.m. on I-291 westbound and involved a school van, a tractor-trailer, two pickup trucks and four passenger vehicles, according to local fire officials. The incident prompted what authorities described as a mass-casualty response, with emergency crews from surrounding communities called to assist.
Six people were injured in the collision, with two suffering serious injuries, while three other people declined medical treatment, officials said. The school van, operated by the Capitol Region Education Council, was carrying one student. Both the student and the van driver sustained minor injuries. Authorities said there were no fatalities.
The crash also resulted in a significant fuel spill. Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded after officials reported leaking vehicle fluids, including possible diesel from the tractor-trailer. A private contractor was brought in to assist with the cleanup.
The westbound section of I-291 between Exits 2 and 1D was closed for more than five hours as emergency personnel treated injured people, investigated the collision and worked to clear the damaged vehicles. The closures created substantial delays for motorists traveling through the area during the morning commute.
Fire officials said the crash occurred immediately before a construction area near the Bissell Bridge, where a lane is permanently closed. They noted that traffic can back up near Exit 2, creating difficult conditions for drivers approaching the area at speed.
A separate minor crash occurred on the eastbound side after another driver reportedly slowed down to look at the wreck and was rear-ended. Officials urged motorists to remain attentive and avoid slowing unnecessarily to observe emergency scenes.
Authorities have not indicated that the crash was fatal, and the precise circumstances that caused the initial collision remain under investigation. State police accident reconstruction personnel were among the agencies responding to the scene.
As crews worked to reopen the highway, drivers were urged to use caution and seek alternate routes where possible. The crash serves as a reminder of the dangers created when traffic suddenly slows near construction zones and major highway incidents.
The investigation into the I-291 collision remains ongoing, and additional information about the injured individuals and the factors that led to the eight-vehicle crash may be released as authorities complete their work.
