SALINA, NY — New York State Police have charged a North Carolina man after a tractor trailer struck more than a dozen overpasses along the New York State Thruway.
At approximately 1:45 p.m. on March 18, 2026, State Police received a report from the Thruway Authority that a tractor trailer hauling an over-height excavator on a flatbed trailer had struck multiple overpasses while traveling westbound between Exits 30 and 36.
Troopers assigned to SP Syracuse located the vehicle, a 2019 Freightliner, and conducted a traffic stop at the Mattydale tandem lot in the town of Salina.
The operator was identified as Oleksander Tarakanovskyi, 38, of North Carolina.
The investigation determined that the vehicle struck more than a dozen overpasses over approximately 60 miles.
Members of the State Police Troop T Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, along with Thruway Traffic Safety, Maintenance, and Bridge Inspection units responded to assess the damage.
No injuries were reported, and there were no lane closures or significant traffic impacts as a result of the incident.
The majority of the overpasses sustained minor damage, while a few sustained moderate damage.
All lanes and overpasses remain open, and bridge inspections are ongoing to assess any additional structural impacts.
Tarakanovskyi was charged with reckless endangerment in the 2nd degree.
He was also issued more than 20 traffic tickets related to the incident, including for violations of federal commercial motor vehicle safety regulations.
Tarakanovskyi was processed at SP Syracuse and released with an appearance ticket returnable to the town of Salina Court on April 8, 2026.
