A crash on Interstate 295 in Portland during the height of Thursday’s evening commute triggered a series of mishaps that caused northbound traffic to back up for miles.

Maine State Police said a two-car accident just before Tukey’s Bridge was reported around 5:20 p.m. A dispatcher said a second minor accident, involving three vehicles, occurred about one mile south of the first crash.

A third problem required police attention, after an elderly driver who was stuck in traffic two miles behind the second accident left his vehicle to go to the bathroom at the side of the road, police said. The man slipped and fell as he returned to his car, and could not get back up. His wife called police for help. He did not need to be hospitalized.