Beer Truck Crash Snags Route 128 Commute

NEWTON, Mass. -- A tractor-trailer truck carrying beer and hard alcohol overturned on a ramp to Route 128 Wednesday morning snagging traffic for hours.

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Kelley Tuthill Reports On Crash

NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported that the truck rolled over shortly before 4 a.m. but none of the beer spilled out onto the roadway. When crews tried to right the truck, the roof came off dumping scores of boxes of beer, wine and vodka onto the side of the road.

The accident at exit 22 at the Riverside MBTA station caused big traffic tie-ups on Route 128 south from the Massachusetts Turnpike Wednesday morning. The ramp reopened at about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

The driver, identified as Jose Perbera, 50, of New Bedford, Mass., was not injured. He said he thought he was getting on to the ramp for the Mass. Pike. Police said he was traveling about 50 mph.

"I was trying to get onto the Mass. Pike and then, somehow, I took the wrong exit and I lost it," he said.

"He mounted the guardrail. He rode it for about 50 to 75 feet. The vehicle flipped over and landed on its side," State Police Capt. Paul McCarthy said.

Perbera faces charges of speeding and failure to use care and caution, police said.

The ramp was closed for several hours as crews worked to right the truck and clean up the debris.

"Alcohol is considered hazardous material," said McCarthy.

A group of minimum security prisoners were brought in to help clean up the debris.

No one was injured.