Thursday’s deadly bus crash on Interstate 84 in Wawayanda in Orange County is bringing attention to the need for emergency responders to quickly get to the scene of accidents. After 20 years of trying to get this increased access, the Slate Hill Fire Department, which responded to Thursday’s crash, is receiving bipartisan support.

In the race to get to the scene of an accident, Slate Hill Fire Department Chief Michael Dally says every minute is critical.

What You Need To Know

  • Along with local firefighters, Assemblymember Karl Brabenec and State Senator James Skoufis are calling for a crash gate to be added connecting the town of Wawayanda to I-84.

  • Crash gates are a private accessway that emergency response vehicles can use to bypass traffic and get to crashes and traffic incidents quickly

  • Slate Hill Fire Department Chief Michael Dally says it will save precious minutes of response time

“The first hour after the occurrence of a traumatic injury is known as a golden hour," he said. "It is considered the most critical for successful emergency treatment.”

That’s why for more than two decades, his department have been trying to get federal officials to create a crash gate nearby, which would enable their firetrucks to bypass traffic and get on I-84. Crash gates are a private access point to a section of highway that is used by emergency services to get to bypass traffic to get to incidents.

“But it is frustrating when you know that there's a serious incident out there and it does feel as if there's some ways that it's not wasted time, but it's just time that we shouldn't have to spend to go the extra 15 to then double back and not know what you're going to encounter as far as traffic," Dally said.

They have the backing of Democrat State Senator James Skoufis and Republican Assemblymember Karl Brabenec, with both pledging they will push federal officials to green light the application for this gate and state officials to make funding available.

“It's impossible to calculate how many lives over the years and forthcoming would and will be saved by this crash date," said Skoufis. "But lives will be saved by this crash site.”

A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul responded to questions about the request for funding, saying in part that "the State will work with local authorities on the request for additional crash gates, which are ultimately approved by the Federal Highway Administration."

Dally says getting that crash gate could make a life-saving difference, with about 35 major crashes happening on the part of I-84 the department covers each year.
The department responded to 3 fatal incidents this past summer alone.

“We need a lot of resources," he said. "So if a couple of minutes is saved to get those additional resources, then that's very crucial.”

Skoufis estimates the cost for this gate would not be prohibitive, with figures around $500,000 to $2,000,000.