Police are investigating a fatal thruway accident involving two tractor-trailers.

On Wednesday evening at around 8:54 pm, police investigated an accident on I-87 between exit 18 (New Paltz) and Exit 19 (Kingston).

The investigation revealed that Vernon W. Bigelow  47, of St. Albans, VT, was operating a 2008 Freightliner tractor-trailer northbound on I-87 when, for an unknown reason, his vehicle struck the rear of a 2005 Volvo tractor-trailer, which was being operated by Alex Celle-Cardenas, 28, of New Milford, PA.

After striking the Volvo, Bigelow lost control of his vehicle, at which point he continued into the center median hitting the guardrail and catching fire.

The fire department was able to extinguished the flames.

Bigelow was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ulster County Assistant Medical Examiner.

The driver of the Volvo complained of neck and back pain but refused to be transported to the hospital for evaluation.

The accident remains under investigation.

 

 

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