Tractor-trailer hits another, blocking part of Thruway

A jackknifed tandem tractortrailer blocked northbound traffic on the Thruway for more than two hours Friday morning after it struck another tractor-trailer parked on the highway’s right shoulder, state police said.

The accident happened about 4:50 a.m. near mile marker 83, between the New Paltz and Kingston exits, police said. The Thruway’s right northbound lane was reopened to traffic at 7:07 a.m., and both lanes were reopened at 10:38 a.m.

The southbound lanes were blocked for some time to allow for debris removal, said Trooper David Howard said.

Howard said a 2015 Daimler tandem tractortrailer driven by a Tomasz Morawski, 41, of Latham, struck a disabled 2014 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by Salahudyn R. Harris, 25, of the Bronx.

The disabled big rig was parked on the right shoulder, and the Daimler tractor-trailer jackknifed after hitting it, Howard said. He did not know how fast the Morawski was driving or if the he slowed down before impact. The accident remained under investigation, he said.

Morawski was taken to HealthAlliance Hospital’s Broadway Campus in Kingston for treatment of facial cuts, the trooper said. He said Harris was not injured, police said.

Howard said a Toyota Camry struck debris in the road that resulted from the tractor-trailer crash and sustained minor damage.

No tickets had been issued as of about 11:30 a.m., Howard said.