Driver of cargo van dies in collision with wrecker on Thruway in Rockland County

NYACK - The driver of a cargo van died Friday morning after his vehicle rear-ended a wrecker at the scene of a disabled vehicle on the Thruway in Rockland County, state police said.

The fatal collision happened around 7 a.m. on the northbound side of the Thruway, around mile marker 17.6, between exit 11 in West Nyack and exit 12 in Nyack.

State police said a preliminary investigation determined that a New York State Thruway wrecker was providing traffic control for a disabled vehicle that was on the left shoulder and partially in the left lane of traffic.

While the disabled vehicle was being loaded by Congers Collision, a 2017 Ram ProMaster cargo van traveling in the left lane rear-ended the wrecker at a high rate of speed.

The wrecker was unoccupied at the time of the crash, as the driver was assisting with the disabled vehicle.

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The driver of the cargo van, who was not identified by police, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Nyack Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

No other injuries were reported.

The left and center northbound lanes of the Thruway were blocked for several hours while the crash scene was cleared.

State police said the investigation into the crash is continuing, and more information might be released later.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: State police say driver of cargo van died in Thruway crash