Flying manhole cover hits, kills woman driver

Police responded to the crash around 7:50 a.m.

CBS Boston Police said the manhole cover went flying and smashed through a woman’s windshield during Boston’s Friday morning commute.

“The victim’s vehicle in this crash was struck by a metal manhole cover that become dislodged and airborne”, state police said.

The driver was an adult woman, but authorities were not releasing further details about her identity pending proper notification of next-of-kin, State Police spokesman Dave Procopio said in statement reported by the station.

Baker said highway department inspectors are going out with welders and doing physical inspections of every manhole cover and grate to make sure none are loose.

Highway Administrator Thomas Tinlin said the move is being made “out of an abundance of caution”.

The victim’s name is being withheld until her family can be notified. The auto stopped when it hit a wall.

What caused the manhole to become dislodged is part of the ongoing investigation, state police said.

Investigators from departments including the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk Count and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation remain on scene. This photo shows the manhole cover’s previous location.