Crash causes semi trailer to plummet over guardrail, spilling thousands of pounds of yogurt
New York State Police say that weather was likely a factor in a messy two semi truck crash on I-86 on Thursday.
The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on February 27 near Bemus Point, New York.
Police say that a semi driven by Illinois-based driver Vasyl Gashenyuk was travelling on I-86 when the truck jackknifed during winter weather conditions. The truck came to a stop blocking the westbound lanes of the interstate.
A second truck driven by Ohio resident Tommy L. Stacy then struck the jackknifed truck, which disconnected Stacy’s trailer from his truck and caused his load of yogurt to spill out onto I-86. Stacy’s trailer continued crashing over a guardrail down onto an access ramp below, spilling out more of the yogurt.
The Bemus Point Fire Department described the crash: “Two commercial vehicles collided with several personal vehicles causing several crash abnormalities, one involving the separation of an 18 wheeler with half rolling down to the second deck with several disconnected axles.”
Stacy was taken to the hospital for treatment of abdomen pain. No other injuries were reported.
Troopers say that about 40,000 pounds of yogurt and 100 gallons of diesel fuel were spilled in the crash.
New York State Police said that several secondary crashes occurred in the traffic backups caused by the initial crash.
The crash remains under investigation. Troopers say that weather was likely a factor.