Maine State Police say an oil tanker truck that jackknifed Sunday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 295 on Tukey’s Bridge in Portland caused traffic delays for nearly three hours.

A state police dispatcher said the scene was not cleared until 3:53 p.m., nearly three hours after the accident took place.

When the accident occurred shortly after 1 p.m., state police shut down southbound traffic. At the time, they advised drivers to find alternate routes. The crash took place just before the Washington Avenue exit on Tukey’s Bridge.

State Trooper Robert Burke said the crash happened when two cars in front of the truck slowed suddenly, according to the truck driver.

The heating oil truck was empty at the time, so no fuel was spilled, Burke said. The oil truck is owned by J&S Oil of Manchester, Maine.