25-Car Crash Caused Thruway Storm Standstill

NYACK, NY — A chain-reaction pile-up on the new Mario Cuomo Bridge Wednesday sent four people to local hospitals and stopped traffic for hours on the New York State Thruway in Rockland and Westchester counties, New York state police said. Their on-scene investigation revealed that about 25 vehicles were involved an accident which started on the northbound side of I-87 at about 7 a.m. as heavy wet snow fell in the Hudson Valley, creating slippery conditions and poor visibility.

The jersey barrier was struck and pushed into the left lane of southbound traffic causing additional accidents, police said.

Traffic was stopped for hours as emergency responders worked to rescue people, including those trapped against the jersey barrier, and then clean up the crash site. Four people were transported by ambulance to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

As of 2:41 p.m., most lanes were open except for one left lane in the northbound and one left lane in the southbound traffic. Traffic delays may still exist in the area, unknown duration of lane closures, police said.

UPDATE: 1:25 p.m. — New accident on the southbound thruway between exit 16 and 15A is blocking the right lane. 12:50:39PM 2/7/18

Rockland County's TZx buses will continue to experience delays as traffic conditions improve, officials said. Some lanes in both directions are now open during repairs.

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The incident on the southbound thruway between milepost 21 to 14 has cleared. Traffic there is normal. 01:00:01PM 2/7/18

The first crash to which State Police responded was a multi car personal injury accident Northbound on I-87 (Mario M. Cuomo Bridge) in the Town of Orangetown. The accidents are still under investigation as to the cause and more information will be released as it becomes available, police said.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m. -- At the site of the injury accident, milepost 15.8, two right lanes open northbound, three right lanes open southbound I-87 - NYS Thruway on TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE. Motorists should plan for extended delays. Motorists may wish to seek alternate routes. 12:28:29PM 2/7/18

Another accident has been cleared and all lanes are open between exits 8 and 7A on I-87 - NYS Thruway southbound at milepost 10.5. Also, slow traffic, stop and go traffic, delays I-87 - NYS Thruway southbound from milepost 21.0 to 14.0 between exit 14 and TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE. Motorists should plan for extended delays. Motorists may wish to seek alternate routes. 11:59:25AM

UPDATE 11:29 a.m. — One lane is open southbound, state transportation officials report.

UPDATE 10:51 a.m. — New York State Police report all lanes blocked due to multiple incidents and response by emergency medical services.

UPDATE 10:30 a.m. — The New York State Thruway has reopened southbound on the Mario Cuomo Bridge. However, traffic is stop-and-go, state transportation officials said. Expect delays between Exit 12 and the bridge.

UPDATE 10:07 a.m. All lanes are blocked northbound and southbound on the Mario Cuomo Bridge. Motorists may wish to seek alternate routes, state transportation officials said.

New York transportation officials report an accident with injuries on the Tappan Zee Bridge. All lanes are blocked on the northbound side at milepost 15.8 as of 9:39 a.m. Wednesday.

The state's Thruway map also shows a crash on the bridge in the southbound lanes.

This is a breaking news story. Return to Patch for updates.