New Jersey Trucker Cited After Police Say Unsafe-Speed Lane Change Led to Freightliner Cascadia Rollover Blocking I-87 in Elizabethtown
ELIZABETHTOWN, NEW YORK — A New Jersey tractor-trailer driver was cited after a rollover crash shut down Interstate 87 southbound Tuesday morning in Elizabethtown, completely blocking the roadway for several hours, according to New York State Police.
State police said troopers and first responders were called around 8:30–8:40 a.m. to the area near Exit 31. Investigators said a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia operated by Elyesel J. Espinal, 32, of Paterson, New Jersey, lost control while changing lanes at an unsafe speed.
Police said the truck struck a guardrail on the west shoulder and overturned, coming to rest on its side across all southbound lanes, shutting down travel between Exit 30 and Exit 31 as crews worked to clear the wreckage.
Espinal was medically evaluated at the scene and was not injured, police said. Troopers issued vehicle and traffic tickets, returnable to the Town of Elizabethtown Court at a later date.
Officials said the impacted stretch of I-87 was reopened by midday.
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