Crash Involving Massive Wind Turbine Creates Traffic Snarl on I-70 in Maryland
Video of the incident provides perspective of the massive size of the blades.
It turns out that wind turbine incidents aren’t only a problem for East Coast beaches.
Apparently, wind blades can pose challenges even before they are installed.
Last week, a wind turbine blade being transported by a tractor-trailer broke loose and crashed onto I-70 near Hagerstown, Maryland. The accident resulted in significant traffic disruption and one person being hospitalized.
The incident happened around 5 a.m. on the westbound lanes of Interstate 70, ABC affiliate WJLA reported.
The blade became loose and crossed over the center median and into the eastbound lanes, Maryland State Police said.
Nearly three hours after the incident, crews removed the blade from the road.
Officials said one person was taken by ambulance to Meritus Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries after the incident.
Wind turbine blade crashes into Maryland traffic on Interstate 70 https://t.co/A4OgQwJH4q pic.twitter.com/MmdpRwCcbI
— New York Post (@nypost) July 1, 2025
The crash impacted traffic for nearly 3 hours during rush hour.
“At approximately 5:30 a.m., a tractor trailer traveling westbound on I-70 was pulling a wind turbine blade that struck the guardrail causing the blade to go partially into the eastbound lanes,” a statement said. “The blade was then clipped by a tractor trailer traveling eastbound.”
The crash resulted in the closure of all westbound lanes of I-70 at I-81 and two lanes in the eastbound direction, the Maryland SHA said on X.
All lanes were reopened by 8:28 a.m., a subsequent post said.
Moving the blade from the road took considerable effort.
A turbine wind blade was finally removed from I-70 in Maryland late this morning after it crashed off a truck at 5 a.m. Although a crane was present, they ended up moving the other end back on the truck with a lift. https://t.co/d77gBpntBF pic.twitter.com/E4ax7FFSgr
— Jesse Ferrell (@WeatherMatrix) June 30, 2025
“Heavy tow crews were able to back the truck up after the guardrail was cut out and get the trailer back onto the westbound lanes. The entire unit was then driven up to I-70 west of Md. Rt. 63 and parked on the wide shoulder,” SHA’s statement said.
The only reported injury involved a worker removing the guardrail, who suffered a hand injury and was taken to a nearby medical center.
At least this incident didn’t create a major environmental contamination incident … just a lot of unhappy rush hour drivers.
But the video certainly provided perspective of the massive size of the blades, and why the offshore incident led to serious consequences for the beaches hit by the debris from the Vineyard Wind turbine farm.
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Comments
its ok
they will get a solar powered crane to clear it up
My average electric bill in Iowa is $90 per month, over a 12 month average, because we get over 60% of our electricity from wind, and the rest from nuclear and natural gas generators. So please look at your electric bill for this month. Are you paying more than $90? If you answered yes, then you are suckers dependent on fossil fuels for your electricity.
And you’re an even bigger sucker as Iowa state tax money and tax credits are paid to the private sector windmill companies to massively subsidize the construction and operation of those very windmills that you claim give you that cheap electricity. You might not be paying for it in your electric bill but you are certainly paying for it on the back-end with those subsidies.
Subsidies Keeping Iowa Wind Turbines Turning
Do you use electric to heat your house? How many square feet?
Iowa doesn’t have a functioning nuclear power plant, dingus. Duane Arnold was shut down in 2020.
So you’re lying, as usual.
A slave to the government subsidized energy welfare state.
But that’s OK with you JR. As long as the taxpayer subsidizes your energy needs, you don’t mind.
Clearly, you are a leech. Look in the mirror.
There are almost constant, turbine blade convoys along this Rt., through Maryland, to the West Virginia line. Been going on for a couple years. I’m surprised this is the first time there’s been a mishap.
I wonder what the wind conditions were at the time, or if the tractor-trailer was traveling fast?
Remember those blades basically giant wings. Get the wrong airflow over it and you have lift. Then it’s bar the door, Katie!
“blades are basically”
Oy vey
One could use them to build a Jumbo version Osprey.
Lift an entire division!
And, DCNewsNow, the blade did not really “fall onto” I-70. It became unmoored from its truck and swung across several lanes and the median.
That headline on the video makes it sound like it flew off a turbine somewhere and landed on I-70 from above.
Safe and effective, for sure.
Eight more blades will now be required to compensate for the petroleum energy wasted by this blade.
Usually they go by rail, spanning a couple extra-long flatcars, with the tip in a sling to accommodate turns.
In MD, along this Rt. To the West Virginia line, these blade convoys have been traveling for the past couple years. I’ve seen some of the permits.
They could have just stood the blade up, right there ion the median, called it “art”, and charged the federal government $475,000 for the “installation” (beautifying the highways and all ). These blades are better looking than most “public art”.
Snap a few cellular antennae on top and it’s making money, too!