ONE HURT AFTER CRASH WITH MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE CRUISER

One person was injured when their car crashed into an unmanned state police cruiser that was stopped on the side of Interstate 495 North for a car fire late Sunday night. The victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, after being extricated, the fire department said.

"The trooper was commuting to work, and he stopped to assist and relieve our cruiser," State Trooper Allen Luther of the Foxboro barracks said. The trooper, who works in the Sturbridge area, was outside the vehicle and not injured, Allen said. The cruiser's lights were activated at the time of the crash.

The state trooper's vehicle was pushed about 50 to 60 feet into the back of a Norton fire engine, which sustained some damage, Fire Lt. David Myles said.

"We were at the car fire, and if the engine position wasn't taken up in that lane, it might have been a different story," Myles said.

The accident was reported about 10:15 p.m. north of Route 123, to which traffic was detoured off the highway. "His gas tank was severely ruptured," Myles said of the state trooper. Because about 15 to 20 gallons of gasoline spilled from the accident, the fire department's special hazardous waste truck responded, putting down foam, and the state Department of Environmental Protection responded as well. There was a catch basin nearby.

The car that hit the cruiser had significant front end damage. The accident remains under investigation by state police. No other information could be learned late Sunday night.