by David Flint
A collision between twin tractor trailer trucks Friday night in Stephentown resulted, luckily, in only minor injuries to one of the drivers. The following is a report of the accident from Stephentown Fire Department Assistant Chief Rik McClave.
The two trucks, sans trailers, were traveling from Bennington, VT, to New Rochelle, NY, to pick up trailers. At approximately 10:53 pm, as one following the other approached the traffic light at the intersection of Route 22 and 43, the driver of the second truck became distracted and was not aware the light had changed to red. At the last moment he swerved his tractor to the left but struck the left rear axle of the first truck and ended up blocking the north bound lane of NY 22.
Four ski patrollers returning from an evening of training at Jiminy Peak happened to be at the intersection. One called 911 while the other three checked the drivers. The driver of the truck that was hit was not injured. The ski patrollers immediately assessed the condition of the second driver, and when Assistant Chief McClave arrived a few minutes later, they informed him of the second driver’s condition.
The Stephentown Fire Department responded with one pumper, a rescue truck and ambulance. Because of the seriousness of the accident, an Advanced life Support (ALS) ambulance was automatically sent from County Ambulance in Pittsfield. The ski patrollers and EMTs from SVFD extricated the patient from the cab, who was then transported by County Ambulance. Stephentown ambulance remained on the scene.
New York State Police dispatched Sunnyside Towing who responded with one light duty and two heavy duty tow trucks from Schodack. Removal of the two trucks and cleanup of motor oil was completed by 1:30 am.
Reports from the owner of the trucking company indicate that the injured driver was able to return home on Sunday with only minor injuries. The mud flap on the lead tractor that fortunately escaped the full impact of the second tractor read, “Lucky’s Trailer Sales.”
