NEW YORK — Police have identified the victim of a fatal accident in which a truck with trailer fell from a flyover in suburban New York toward the freeway lanes below on Wednesday.
The incident took place on the Cross Westchester Expressway in the Westchester County town of Harrison around 10:20 am, according to the New York State Police.
NBC 47 and its sister network NBC New York were on the scene where damage was seen to the overpass and the tractor-trailer was completely overturned on the road below in the westbound lanes of I-287, with debris lying around. everywhere. The Purchase Fire Department was one of the first responders on the scene.
According to state police, a preliminary investigation found that “the tractor-trailer was on the 9A exit ramp from I-287 to I-684 north when the driver lost control and flipped over onto the structure and fell into the lanes at westbound of I-287”.
“As soon as dispatch came in, you knew it was serious and you knew it was bad,” White Plains Deputy Fire Chief Adam Caponera said. “It’s one of those things as a firefighter…immediately guys go into that work mode. They know what they have to do and they can’t get there fast enough.”
Caponera said firefighters and police officers from across Westchester County went to work, freeing the driver of the van who had the front end crushed, impacted by the falling truck.
The driver of the tractor-trailer died, while an occupant of the other vehicle on I-287 was taken to the hospital, police said.
According to the New York State Police, the road closures as a result of the “serious car accident” are expected to be “significant.”
State Police identified the driver of the deceased tractor-trailer Thursday as Nathan L. Montalvo, 42, of Guilford, Conn.
The injured motorist is identified as Aris Guerrero, 37, of West Hempstead, New York, police said. He was transported to Westchester Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
“All lanes I-287 [en dirección oeste] They are closed at the I-684 junction following a serious car accident. Two lanes on I-287 [el la direccion este] they are open. The freeway closure is expected to be significant. Avoid the area and seek alternative routes,” the state police tweeted.
In an updated statement, state police said all westbound lanes of I-287 are closed at exit 9, and remained so for several hours after the freak accident.
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation asks anyone who witnessed the crash to contact their assigned investigator at 914-769-2600.
