Newtown had more gridlock than usual on Thursday, August 19, thanks to a pair of early morning crashes that forced thousands of additional vehicles off Interstate 84 and clogged dozens of local avenues across town for hours.

Both crashes — one in each direction — involved tractor-trailer trucks.

Each driver has since been cited by Connecticut State Police (CSP) for traveling too fast for conditions. One faces a stiffer penalty for traveling too fast through a construction zone.

The drivers escaped their crashes without injury.

The first crash occurred around 3:36 Thursday morning. According to CSP, Joseph J. Pokomy, 51, of Swoyersville, Penn., was driving a 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer in the high-speed lane on I-84 West over the Rochambeau Bridge when he lost control of the vehicle during raining/wet conditions.

The truck crashed into a DOT concrete barrier set up within the bridge’s construction zone. The two spans that carry traffic over Lake Zoar, collectively referred to as the Rochambeau Bridge, are being fully rehabilitated. Currently, the eastern bridge is carrying all lanes of traffic while the western bridge is being renovated.

The cab of Pokomy’s truck struck some of the temporary barriers between the two directions of travel, damaging approximately 500 feet of plastic dividers set into the barriers.

The trailer remained connected to the truck, and was on the highway when the vehicle stopped. The crash ruptured the truck’s fuel tank.

Southbury Fire responders were dispatched first; Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue was called to the scene around 4:21 am. CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Department of Transportation representatives also responded to the scene.

The high-speed lanes of I-84 East and West were closed for an extended period. The truck was towed from the scene by Modzelewski’s due to a disabling amount of damage.

Pokomy was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions in a construction zone.

The second Thursday morning crash happened around 5:47, according to CSP.

Vernon L. Lundin, 46, of Plains, Penn., was operating a 2006 International tractor-trailer truck on I-84 Eastbound near Exit 10 when he lost control of the truck in heavy rain.

The vehicle jackknifed and then crashed into the center median guardrail. The crash blocked the high-speed travel lane of the highway.

Sandy Hook Fire, Hawleyville Fire, and Newtown Ambulance Corps also responded to the scene. DEEP was notified due to a fuel leak close to a catch basin.

The International was also towed, by Hilario’s, due to its damage. Lundin was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

With both directions of travel compromised on I-84, Newtown and Sandy Hook Center saw plenty of extra traffic. Church Hill Road (Route 6) was especially slow for much of the day.

Eastbound highway travelers faced up to seven miles of delays following the jackknife incident. Those trying to circumvent that location exited the interstate at Exit 8 or Exit 9, with most then following Route 6 East through Danbury, Bethel, and Newtown, and into Southbury, where they could return to the highway at Exit 14.

Similarly, the westbound crash led to long backups on the highway, at times extending more than ten miles while DOT crews worked to remove and replace the damaged barriers on the Rochambeau Bridge.

Drivers rerouted off the interstate as far back as Middlebury, or in Southbury or Sandy Hook, as they tried to work their way around that crash. Most then followed Route 6 West, working their way to the Exit 10 westbound ramp on Church Hill Road.

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Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@the bee.com.