Victim of deadly tractor trailer fall off overpass in Westchester County identified as CT driver

Police identified the victim of a fatal accident when a tractor trailer slid off an overpass in suburban New York onto the highway below on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on the Cross Westchester Expressway in Harrison, Westchester County around 10:20 am, according to the New York State Police.

Helicopter 4 was over the scene where the flyover damage was seen and the tractor trailer was completely flipped onto the highway below in the westbound I-287 lanes as there was debris all around. The Purchase Fire Department was one of the first to arrive on the scene.

According to the state police, a preliminary investigation found that “a tractor-trailer was on exit 9A off I-287 north of I-684 when the driver lost control and rolled over the guideway into the I-287 lane westbound.” Garbage was left lying in all lanes after the truck exploded on the road.

“As soon as the dispatch arrived, you knew it was something important, and you knew it was bad,” said White Plains Deputy Fire Chief Adam Caponera. “It’s one of those things when you’re a firefighter, everything goes down and the guys immediately jump into action. They know what they need to do and they can’t get there fast enough.”

Caponera said firefighters and police officers from across Westchester County set to work using the jaws of life to free a van driver who had his front end crushed.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was killed, and a passenger from another vehicle on I-287 was taken to hospital, police said.

On Thursday, state police identified the deceased tractor-trailer driver as Nathan L. Montalvo, 42, of Guildford, Connecticut.

The injured motorist has been identified as Aris Guerrero, 37, from West Hempstead, New York, police said. He was taken to Westchester Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.

According to the New York State Police, the road closure from a “serious car accident” was “expected to be significant.” Eastbound traffic was redirected to Westchester Avenue while all westbound lanes remained closed at Exit 9 as of Wednesday evening.

When all lanes of traffic will fully open is not yet clear. The investigation into the crash continues.

The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact the designated investigator at 914-769-2600.