‘Worst Thing I’ve Ever Seen’ 40-Vehicle Pileup Shuts Down New York State Thruway in Both Directions
Multiple weather-related collisions on the New York State Thruway on Thursday created a pileup involving approximately 40 vehicles. The accidents shut down the roadway in both directions while State Police, fire crews, and EMS personnel responded to the scene to assist in the cleanup.
The massive pileup occurred between Exits 48 and 48A in Batavia. New York State Police reported that a snow squall triggered the accidents by greatly reducing visibility and traction.
One truck driver, whose vehicle was totaled in the crash, told Rochester First that it was “whiteout conditions” and that the New York State Thruway was like a sheet of ice.
“I had to make a choice of either hitting the trucks in front of me, swerving off the road and running over cars, or get on the shoulder and brace for impact,” he said.
Another driver told Syracuse.com, “It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The New York State Police reported four individuals were transported to Erie County Medical Center. Two others were sent to United Memorial Medical Center-Batavia. All were believed to have sustained minor injuries. Cleanup and recovery for all incidents took several hours and involved multiple light and heavy tow trucks. The Pembroke Fire and EMS departments, the Genesee County Office of Emergency Operations, and the NYS Thruway Authority Maintenance also assisted.
Earlier this week, a 43-vehicle pileup on Highway 58 near Bakersfield, Calif., injured nine people. A dense fog advisory was in effect at the time of the crashes, with visibility reported at about 50 feet. Both sides of the highway were shut down for many hours.
