Tractor, load that struck Thruway overpass was 3 feet over height: State police
The driver of a tractor trailer who caused serious traffic backups when he struck an overpass on the Thruway Thursday received multiple tickets for his actions, state police reported Friday.
State police said the driver of the tractor trailer, who hailed from Hollywood, Florida, was driving south when the large steel tower he was transporting struck the South Broadway overpass in the village of South Nyack, causing significant structural damage.
According to police, the clearance for the overpass is 14 feet, one inch, while the tractor trailer and its load were determined to be oversized in height, measuring 17 feet, 6 inches.
The driver of the tractor trailer, who was taken to Nyack Hospital for evaluation, was driving for the San Trans Inc. company out of Bartlett, Illinois, and did not have a permit to transport the oversized load on the Thruway. Police said he was issued multiple tickets for violating Thruway rules and regulations.
The crash happened at 6:45 a.m. and caused significant traffic delays on the Thruway and other nearby roads while emergency bridge repairs were made. All lanes on the Thruway were reopened by 7 p.m. Thursday. The South Broadway bridge will remain closed until it undergoes a full inspection, according to the New York State Thruway Authority.
State police said the maximum allowable height on the Thruway is 13 feet, 6 inches, and that limit is strictly enforced.
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 Times Herald-Record: Mario Cuomo Bridge approach backups were caused by tall tractor, load
