PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Two New York State Troopers were taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after a Jeep struck their patrol vehicles from behind on State Route 374 in the town of Plattsburgh, causing one of the vehicles to catch fire, according to State Police.
Troopers Jakai E. Townsend of SP Lewis and Jacob R. Casey of SP Plattsburgh were responding to a three-vehicle crash Thursday morning in two patrol vehicles. Both troopers were headed westbound on Route 374 and slowed as an uninvolved vehicle ahead of them prepared to turn.
A 2018 orange Jeep Cherokee, driven by a 41-year-old woman from Saranac, N.Y, failed to notice the slowing traffic and hit Townsend’s patrol vehicle from behind, according to State Police. That impact pushed Townsend’s vehicle into the back of Casey’s.
Townsend’s vehicle caught fire after the collision. Local fire departments and emergency medical crews responded and put out the fire.
Both troopers were taken to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
The driver of the Jeep was evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel and declined further treatment after signing a refusal, State Police said.
The crash remains under investigation.