Nathan Montalvo Killed when 18-Wheeler Falls off I-287 Overpass in Harrison, NY
UPDATE (January 20, 2023): The truck driver killed in this accident has been identified as 42-year-old Nathan Montalvo. The van driver injured in the wreck was also identified as 37-year-old Aris Guerrero.
Harrison, NY — January 18, 2023, a truck driver died and another person was injured when an 18-wheeler fell from an overpass onto I-287 in Westchester County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 10:20 a.m. on I-287 at exit 9a toward I-684 North. Preliminary investigation suggests a tractor-trailer was traveling on the the ramp between highways and was above I-287 when it went of control for unknown reasons. The truck left the ramp and fell into the freeway's westbound lanes below, then came to rest upside-down. Moments later a van collided with debris from the crash.
The truck driver was fatally injured in the accident. The van driver received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
No further information is currently available.
Accidents like this one just reinforce just how hard a profession truck driving really is. Successfully moving from A to B in 40 tons of steel and fiberglass is plenty challenging even in optimal conditions, but people don't always realize how many obstacles those drivers can face along the way. Anything from mechanical issues in the truck to shifting cargo to medical emergencies to negligent or demanding employers could be involved in a truck crash, yet time and again people see reports of one going out of control and assume the driver just did something wrong.
Am I saying that's impossible? No, but I am saying it's far too soon to tell and investigators must be careful and thorough as they search for the whole story. I've helped people involved in all kinds of accidents over the years, and whatever combinations of vehicles were involved we made sure only facts, not assumptions, ultimately said what happened. I just hope law enforcement has the training, time, and tools to find those facts for the people who need and deserve them in New York.
