New York State Police have charged a North Carolina man after a tractor trailer he was operating struck more than a dozen overpasses along the New York State Thruway in Central New York.
According to investigators, the incident occurred around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, when troopers received a report that a westbound tractor trailer carrying an over-height excavator on a flatbed trailer had hit several overpasses between Exits 30 and 36.
Troopers assigned to State Police in Syracuse located the vehicle, a 2019 Freightliner, and conducted a traffic stop at the Mattydale tandem lot in the town of Salina. The driver was identified as 38-year-old Oleksander Tarakanovskyi of North Carolina.
Authorities determined the vehicle struck more than a dozen overpasses over a roughly 60-mile stretch. Multiple agencies, including the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, Thruway Traffic Safety, Maintenance, and Bridge Inspection teams, responded to evaluate the damage.
No injuries were reported, and officials say there were no significant traffic impacts or lane closures. Most of the overpasses sustained minor damage, while a few had moderate damage. All bridges remain open as inspections continue.
Tarakanovskyi has been charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree and issued more than 20 traffic tickets, including violations of federal commercial vehicle safety regulations.
He was processed at State Police in Syracuse and released with an appearance ticket. He is scheduled to appear in Salina Town Court on April 8.
