Victim identified in fatal crash on I-495 in Middleboro

A crash this afternoon on Route 495 in Middleboro led to the death of the operator.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Michael Moitoza indicates that at about 3:40 p.m., Jennifer Ryan, 32, of New Bedford was traveling on Route 495 Northbound, south of Exit 3, in a 2004 Ford Explorer when, for reasons still under investigation, she lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash into a tree in the median. Following that crash, the vehicle caught fire and became fully engulfed. Members of the Middleboro Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire and the New Bedford woman, who was the sole occupant in the vehicle, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The cause of this crash remains under investigation with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section, and troopers assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

State Police were assisted on scene by Middleboro Fire and EMS, Middleboro Police, and MassDOT.

Route 495 Northbound was closed for more than four hours for investigation and cleanup. Traffic was getting by in the breakdown lane.

Video from the scene courtesy of MassLive.