Two Dead After Head-On Crash On Interstate 495

LAWRENCE, MA -- A 38-year-old Lawrence woman and a man riding in her 2016 Kia Sportage were both killed when she swerved across the median strip of Interstate 495 and onto the northbound side, causing a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday. Three other people were injured, and the northbound side of the highway was closed for more than three hours after the crash, which occurred just before noon.

Police declined to release the identities of the man and the woman, who were pronounced dead on the scene. Massachusetts State Police are trying to determine why the woman suddenly swerved from the southbound side into oncoming crash. The woman sideswiped a 2004 Ford F350 driven by a 59-year-old man from Dracut, who was not injured.

The Kia then hit a 2003 Honda Pilot head-on driven by a 55-year-old woman, with a 56-year-old male passenger, both of Lawrence. The Kia careened into a 2016 Toyota RAV4 driven by a 58-year-old woman, with a 27-year-old female passenger, both of Andover.

The driver of the Honda was taken to Lawrence General Hospital with serious injuries, police said. The two women in the RAV4 were also taken to Lawrence General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The crash happened on the Andover-Lawrence line, south of Exit 42A. While the highway was closed, traffic was detoured from Interstate 93 to Route 213, causing massive backups. The Massachusetts State Police accident reconstruction team is investigating the crash.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).