The New York State Police have charged a North Carolina man following an investigation into a tractor trailer that struck multiple overpasses along the New York State Thruway in Central New York.
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, age 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.
State Police Troop T Commander Major Brian T. Ferrone said, “The women and men of Troop T dedicate themselves each day to enforcing the law and making the Thruway one of the safest highways in the nation. Reckless, egregious behavior will not be tolerated. I commend our uniform troopers and members of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit for their swift actions in removing this hazard from the road, preventing potential injury to other motorists. We thank the Thruway Authority for its continued partnership.”
Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “Reckless and ignorant driver behavior has serious consequences. How a tractor trailer driver could be unaware that his load hit more than a dozen bridges is beyond comprehension. We appreciate the support of our partners at State Police Troop T and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit in tracking down the vehicle and taking it off the road. Our team of inspectors has examined all of the impacted bridges and while all continue to be safe, we will proceed with repairs as needed. While bridge hits plague states across the nation, we are committed to holding irresponsible drivers accountable.”
Tarakanovskyi was charged with reckless endangerment in the 2nd degree (NYS Penal Law §120.20). 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.