Fire Causes Overpass Collapse and Closes Part of I-95 in Philadelphia

Part of Interstate 95 in northeast Philadelphia was shut down in both directions on Sunday morning after a vehicle fire caused part of the highway to collapse, officials said.

The fire was under Route I-95 near the Cottman Avenue exit, Sarah Peterson, a spokeswoman for the city of Philadelphia, said in an email.

“The fire is under control, and city and state agencies are responding to address impacts to residents in the area and travelers affected by the road closure,” she said.

Thick, black smoke filled the air after a vehicle fire started around 6:30 a.m., CBS Philadelphia reported.

The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management asked people to avoid the area and warned that nearby streets were closed because of the emergency response. The agency said the highway was closed between the Woodhaven and Aramingo exits.

It was not clear if anyone had died or been injured in the vehicle fire and roadway collapse.

In April, part of Interstate 95 was shut down after a fuel tanker crash on a major bridge in Connecticut.