By Chris Cassidy
A 55-year-old Salem man standing in the far-right travel lane of Interstate 495 was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer yesterday morning, state police said.
Police declined to release the man's name last night, pending the notification of his family.
The man was driving south on Route 495 when he pulled over into the breakdown lane near the Boston Road exit in Westford, according to police.
He then exited his car and was standing in the right-most travel lane when the tractor-trailer — a 2009 Freightliner — hit him.
The man was rushed to Lowell General Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Police identified the truck driver as George Orchard, 45, of Chichester, N.H.
He was not cited.
Police don't know why the Salem man was standing in the travel lane when the incident happened or why his car was in the breakdown lane but said the crash was still under investigation, according to state police Sgt. David Mahan.
The State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section and the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section are assisting in the investigation.
The crash caused traffic problems on busy Interstate 495 yesterday morning.
Emergency crews had to shut down the breakdown lane and the right travel lane for about 30 minutes after the crash.
Police were still trying to contact the victim's family last night before publicly identifying him.
Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salemnews.com.
