PORTLAND — Crushed cars falling from a trailer shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 295 on Friday morning.

Fifteen crushed cars were being delivered to a Topsham recycling plant. Cables securing the cars snapped about 7:30 a.m. near Tukey’s Bridge just before Exit 8, according to a statement from Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland.

Three cars fell onto the interstate and blocked two of the four lanes. Motorists had to swerve to avoid hitting the cars but no other vehicles hit the debris.

State police closed all northbound lanes whiles clearing the accident scene. The three loose cars were towed from the scene. The cars still on the trailer were able to be re-secured, and the driver was able to deliver the load to Topsham.

The lanes were reopened shortly before 9 a.m., according to McCausland.

State police issued summonses citing detective load securement to Lambert’s Auto and Truck Recyclers of Rochester, N.H., and the driver Jason Fisher, 30, of Rochester.