“It’s tough going right now and it’s going to stay that way for a while,’’ MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told the Globe. “This is just one of those storms that is a quick hit, and it’s dropping a lot with high intensity. That just makes for a bad combination, especially when starting like right in the thick of the commuting hours.”
State Police, meanwhile, tweeted shortly after 9 a.m. that troopers “throughout the state have been responding to numerous minor crashes, spin-outs, and roll-overs.”
The victim in the Freetown crash was the sole occupant of the vehicle, authorities said. The single-vehicle crash occurred on Route 140 northbound.
Sadly, Freetown crash is a fatality. Troopers remain on scene conducting investigation. Vehicle went off road. No lanes closed. https://t.co/mUOGqyXMb7
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) January 7, 2022
Shortly before 11:30 a.m. State Police said the deceased driver was an “adult male” who was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers were initially called to the crash site just before 7:30 a.m.
“MSP Collision Reconstruction and Crime Scene Services are assisting in the investigation,” the statement said. “Preliminary investigation suggests excessive speed was a factor in the crash.”
As of 10 a.m., snow tallies posted to the National Weather Service website included 10 inches in Hopkinton, 12.9 in Norwood, 12.2 in Westwood, 10.5 in Walpole, 10.2 in Millis, 10 each in Foxborough and Franklin, 11.2 in Dorchester, 11.5 in Sharon, 10.8 in Douglas, 10.5 in Upton, 10.2 in Mendon, and 10 inches in Webster.
Several communities had at least 9 inches, including Canton, Wrentham, Chelsea, Milford, Whitinsville, and Manchester-by-the-Sea, according to the weather service.
Snow tallies totaled well over six inches in Boston, but Mayor Michelle Wu did not declare a snow emergency in the city.
A Boston police cruiser was rear ended in the area of 875 Morton St. at approximately 8:10 a.m. Friday, according to Officer Andre Watson, a spokesman for the Boston Police Department. An officer was taken to an area hospital to be evaluated for non-life threatening injuries, he said, adding that the cruiser had been parked at a red light and was rear-ended by a vehicle that couldn’t stop due to the snow.
Both Logan International Airport and Worcester Regional Airport were open and operating, according to Massport. However, by 8:30 a.m. airlines had canceled 258 flights at Logan and four of the 10 flights out of Worcester. Massport was urging travelers to check with airlines before heading to the airports, but said the agency expects the airlines may be able to catch up in the afternoon when the snow tapers off.
State courthouses were also closed Friday, and MassDOT said speed limits were slashed on certain highways, with Interstate 93′s carpool lane sealed off amid the snowfall.
“MassDOT has 2497 pieces of equipment currently deployed in snow & ice operations statewide,” the state agency tweeted. “Speed Limit remains 40mph on I-90 from NY Border to I-495 in #Westboro. No I-93 HOV lane for both AM & PM commute. #MAsnow”
MassDOT has 2497 pieces of equipment currently deployed in snow & ice operations statewide. Speed Limit remains 40mph on I-90 from NY Border to I-495 in #Westboro. No I-93 HOV lane for both AM & PM commute. #MAsnow
— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) January 7, 2022
A storm warning also has been issued through 2 p.m. on Friday for Essex, central Middlesex, and southern Worcester counties.
Boston Public Schools were closed due to the storm. Dozens of other districts around the region also canceled classes due to the weather.
But while classes weren’t in session, the union for BPS custodians tweeted out in the morning that members got up early to clear safe passages to school entrances.
The custodians’ efforts did not go unnoticed by BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, who tweeted out her appreciation.
In addition to the heavy snowfall, there will be a period of strong wind gusts Friday afternoon as the system exits, forecasters said. Over the outer Cape and Islands, gusts from 35 to 40 miles per hour are possible, while gusts along the South Coast and East Coast may reach from 25 to 30 m.p.h. Blustery and colder weather will follow tonight.
Shannon Larson and Emily Sweeney of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.
Travis Andersen can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe. John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JREbosglobe.
