Ice Causes Chaos on Boston-Area Roads and Sidewalks

Treacherous commute as ice covers highways, streets, and sidewalks, leading to multiple crashes and injuries

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A winter storm brought icy conditions to the Boston area on Wednesday, causing major problems for both drivers and pedestrians. Multiple crashes were reported on highways and local roads due to the ice, with several people taken to the hospital. Sidewalks were also treacherous, with people struggling to walk without slipping and falling.

Why it matters

The icy conditions highlighted the challenges Boston-area residents face during the winter months, with infrastructure and transportation systems struggling to keep up with the weather. The incidents also raised concerns about public safety and the need for better preparation and response to these types of winter weather events.

The details

In Danvers, 22 miles north of Boston, the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars. Three people were taken to local hospitals. In Revere, just seven miles north of the city, two tractor-trailers collided on North Shore Road, which police said will be shut down for most of the day. Forty-four miles west of Boston, a tractor-trailer ran off the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westboro, with one person taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Pedestrians in Boston also struggled, with one person describing having to scream and catch edges to avoid falling multiple times during their walk to work.

  • The incidents occurred on Wednesday morning during the morning commute.

The players

Swapna Vantzelfde

A Boston resident who described her treacherous walk to work in the South End, nearly falling multiple times due to the icy conditions.

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What they’re saying

“I almost fell at least five times but I didn't. I don't know how. I screamed and caught edges.”

— Swapna Vantzelfde (CBS News Boston)

The takeaway

The icy conditions in the Boston area highlighted the ongoing challenges the region faces in dealing with severe winter weather, with infrastructure and transportation systems struggling to keep up. The incidents raised concerns about public safety and the need for better preparation and response to these types of weather events in the future.