South Nyack, NY: A tractor-trailer struck an overpass on the New York State Thruway in South Nyack on Monday, Aug. 10, overturning and colliding with a car parked along the highway, according to New York State Police.
The crash occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. on the southbound side of Interstate 87 near the South Broadway overpass, not far from the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. State Police from Troop T in Tarrytown responded to the scene.
According to investigators, a 2020 Mack tractor-trailer was traveling southbound when it struck the South Broadway Bridge overpass. The impact caused the tractor-trailer to overturn. The truck then struck a 2025 Toyota sedan that was parked on the right shoulder of the highway.
The driver of the Toyota was transported to Nyack Hospital with injuries that State Police described as non-life-threatening. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured.
Police identified the truck driver as 50-year-old Pernell Harris of York, South Carolina. Harris was issued a ticket for operating an over-height vehicle. The tractor-trailer is registered to Eastern Express, Inc., an Indiana-based company, according to State Police.
Video of the crash reportedly shows the tractor-trailer traveling in the middle lane as it approached the South Broadway overpass. Shortly before reaching the bridge, the truck appears to brake before striking the underside of the structure. The collision sent debris across the highway as the truck tipped onto its side and slid along the roadway.
The overturned tractor-trailer blocked multiple lanes of the Thruway and caused significant traffic disruptions while emergency personnel responded and crews worked to remove the vehicle and debris. The incident occurred along a heavily traveled section of I-87 approaching the Cuomo Bridge.
State Police reported that all lanes had reopened by approximately 4 p.m., nearly four hours after the crash.
The South Broadway overpass has previously been involved in a similar incident. According to published reports, the bridge was struck by another vehicle in 2023.
Monday’s collision remains under investigation. Authorities have not announced additional charges or citations beyond the over-height vehicle ticket issued to the tractor-trailer driver.
The incident highlights the potential consequences when commercial vehicles exceed the clearance of highway bridges and other structures. Commercial drivers and carriers are responsible for ensuring that vehicles and their loads comply with applicable height restrictions and can safely travel along their planned routes.
Despite the size of the tractor-trailer and the severity of the rollover, no life-threatening injuries were reported. The Toyota driver was hospitalized, while Harris reported no injuries, according to State Police.
