Watch CBS News
/ CBS Boston
An electric car fire on the Mass Pike shut down part of the highway in Boston and jammed traffic in several parts of the city Friday morning.
According to Massachusetts State Police, the car caught fire just after 7 a.m. on the westbound side of the Pike beyond the Prudential Tunnel. Making matters worse, several cars also hit debris on the road in that area.
The driver of the electric car later told WBZ-TV he believed that he hit something in the roadway, causing his Chevrolet to burst into flames and later explode.
The westbound side of the Pike was shut down and traffic was backed up all the way to Logan Airport. All lanes were re-opened more than two hours later, around 9:20 a.m., according to MassDOT.
“Boston Fire advised State Police that the engulfed vehicle is electric and will take several hours to extinguish,” State Police spokesman Tim McGuirk said in a statement Friday. “For the safety of motorists and first responders, officials closed the roadway and All diverted traffic.”
That traffic backed up through the city, including on Interstate 93 north and south which connects to the Pike near the site. There were also issues getting though on the Zakim Bridge and Storrow Drive.
At the site of the fire, which is near Fenway Park, frustrated drivers were seen standing outside of their cars, some on their phones, because the westbound side of the Pike had essentially become a parking lot during rush hour.
Riders on the MBTA’s Red Line were also affected. They ended up in traffic because shuttle buses had replaced service on part of the subway line Friday morning due to construction.
Traffic maps of the morning rush hour in Boston were lit up in red because of all the delays connected to the fire.
In the map below, the section of the Mass Pike that was shut down was highlighted with a long black line.
There’s no official word yet from police on what caused the crash. No serious injuries were reported.
“More information will follow when it becomes available,” McGuirk said.
Back in 2023, WBZ-TV’s I-Team looked into electric car fires and the dangers facing firefighters.
The batteries are difficult to reach, hard to put out and stranded energy that remains can easily re-ignite.
Last year, a retired Everett firefighter created a device to help fight electric car fires because the lithium batteries can burn for as long as 24 hours. It allows firefighters to put out the fire under the car from a safe distance.
Mike Toole is the managing editor for CBS Boston. He has worked in the WBZ-TV newsroom for more than 20 years. He previously wrote and produced news and sports at WABC-TV in New York.
© 2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Related Article
