MONTGOMERY, N.Y. -- Just after 12:30 Wednesday afternoon, state police say two tractor trailers and four cars were involved in a serious crash in the westbound lane of I-84 just west of Exit 5. Troopers say one person was killed and several more were injured.
"The accident occurred just prior to the construction zone where two lanes go into one," said Major Joseph Tripodo of New York State Police Troop F. "We ask that the public be extremely careful as they approach the construction zones.”
Two of those cars ended up underneath one of the tractor trailers, and troopers believe speed was a factor.
Both westbound lanes between Exits 5A and 4 were shut down for several hours as police investigated the crash. Motorists were diverted off I-84 at Exit 5A, causing major traffic backups across Orange County.
“17K was all blocked off. Coming here was slow, driving like five miles per hour,” said Jas Chielana, the Mobil Mart owner in Montgomery.
“From the Wallkill River, all the way into Middletown was bumper to bumper,” said John Seah, a Montgomery resident.
Drivers say a normal commute from Newburgh to Montgomery takes about 10 minutes. On Wednesday, it took more than 90 minutes.
“It was just odd to see all this traffic, not knowing what was going on, especially for the amount of time we were in it,” said Justin Glodich, a Montgomery resident.
“It’s just getting horrible as you can see," Chielana said. "It’s bad.”
This is the second crash this week in the area near Exit 5 on I-84. On Monday, one person was injured in a crash involving a tractor trailer and at least two other vehicles just west of the exit.
Following Wednesday's crash, state police are advising drivers to be cautious.
“These construction zones are going on all summer," Tripodo said. "Be careful, stay alert and drive safely.”