A tragic accident occurred Wednesday on the New York State Thruway on Jan. 7 when a tractor-trailer went off the roadway, plunged down a steep embankment, and erupted in flames, resulting in the death of the driver, according to officials.
The crash took place in the late afternoon near Exit 21, which connects the highway to Catskill, Cairo, and other communities in Greene County. Firefighters from Catskill and neighboring districts responded to the scene, along with rescue teams specializing in challenging terrain.
Reports indicate that the truck veered off the highway, breached a guardrail, and tumbled approximately 60 feet before descending several hundred feet into a valley. The vehicle caught fire during the crash. Emergency crews worked for hours to extinguish the blaze and navigate the treacherous conditions in freezing temperatures. Members of the Twin Clove rope rescue team, comprised of local fire departments and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, attempted to save the driver, but the individual succumbed to injuries at the scene.
The driver was later identified as 54-year-old Sean Horsford of Queens, according to WNYT.
The crash significantly disrupted Thruway traffic as first responders and investigators worked on-site. A second tractor-trailer crash was reported a mile or two south of the first incident. That accident caused minor injuries but added to the challenges faced by emergency crews.
The cause of the initial crash remains under investigation, and New York State Police have not released further details.
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