Critical brake defects found after parked CMV rolled down hill and hit another vehicle, New York troopers say

New York State Police (NYSP) removed a commercial vehicle from the road after a post-crash inspection revealed major brake issues.

According to an August 3 release from NYSP, a box truck driver was making a delivery in Chappaqua, New York. The driver set the parking brake and exited the vehicle. The box truck then rolled forward and hit a second vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

After the crash, NYSP Troop K Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) responded to the scene to perform an inspection.

NYSP said that the CVEU “determined that a dislodged roller pin (a critical brake system component) allowed the brake actuator rod to separate from the slack adjuster, preventing one of the truck’s brakes from functioning properly. The inspection also revealed that the truck’s rear brakes were significantly out of adjustment, leaving the vehicle with the equivalent of only 1.5 properly functioning brakes out of four.”

The vehicle was placed out-of-service.

“Incidents like this serve as an important reminder that routine maintenance and thorough brake inspections are essential. Identifying worn or damaged components and correcting brake adjustment issues before they result in a failure helps prevent crashes and protect everyone who shares our roadways,” NYSP said.