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Watch as wind turbine blade blocks traffic on Maryland highway


Traffic was impeded along a Maryland interstate during the morning commute on June 30 after a wind turbine blade blocked both lanes of the highway, according to state police.

At least one person was injured in connection to the incident on Interstate 70, The Herald-Mail, part of the Paste BN Network, reported.

The incident took place just before 5:30 a.m. local time northeast of Williamsport, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Video taken from the scene shows the large silver blade strewn across all four lanes of traffic. Footage also shows traffic backed up along the interstate in both directions.

Watch: Wind turbine blade blocks traffic

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Fallen wind turbine creates messy traffic situation in Maryland
A wind turbine that fell down across the I-70 highway in Maryland is causing long traffic delays.
Scripps News - WMAR Baltimore

What caused turbine incident?

State highway spokesperson M. Daniel Allman said a tractor-trailer was pulling a wind turbine blade when the blade struck the guardrail, causing the blade to go partially into the eastbound lanes while the truck remained in the westbound lanes.

An eastbound tractor-trailer then clipped the blade, Allman said.

Officials shut down the highway for several hours to clear the highway.

Wind turbine crash leaves one injured

A worker reportedly had a hand injury from trying to remove a guardrail and was taken to Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown, a Washington County 911 supervisor said.

Troopers reopened the interstate about 8:15 a.m. local time.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.