SCARBOROUGH (AP) – Traffic was backed up for miles on the Maine Turnpike following a chain-reaction accident involving more than 15 vehicles late Friday afternoon. Maine State Police said about 15 cars and four tractor-trailers were involved in the accident, according to Maine Turnpike Authority spokesman Dan Paradee.

While several people taken to hospitals with minor injuries, no major injuries were reported, he said. In all, 12 of the cars and three of the tractor-trailer had to be towed, Paradee said.

Northbound traffic came to a halt and was backed up for about 10 miles, past the Saco interchange to the south. The southbound traffic slowed to a crawl with a backup of about four miles to the north, Paradee said. The northbound lanes were opened to traffic shortly before 6 p.m.

The highway was wet from a passing storm, and troopers speculated the accident may have been caused by wet roads and motorists driving too fast.

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