NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — It’s not unusual for the snow removal process in New York City to push snow into traffic lanes to help mash down and melt the snow on city streets, but that’s not allowed on highways.<\/p>\n
The question is whether the Sanitation Department was doing something like this on the Long Island Expressway two weeks ago, and if so, did it contribute to a fatal crash?<\/p>\n
Images of the crash scene the morning of Feb. 6 show a lot of snow on the highway near the Van Wyck exit on the westbound LIE.<\/p>\n
There were also sanitation vehicles working there clearing the shoulder.<\/p>\n
It was bitterly cold and the week-old snow was stubborn.<\/p>\n
A livery cab driver appeared to lose control of his Camry on that slippery stretch. Police say he crashed into the median.<\/p>\n
His car was then hit by an oncoming tractor trailer, and he did not survive his injuries.<\/p>\n
The truck driver was also taken to a hospital and did survive.<\/p>\n
The question is: was the snow on the highway a factor, and was it because it was moved from the shoulder into the traffic lanes? That is not the protocol for a highway where the speed limit is 50 mph.<\/p>\n
Thursday afternoon, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked if any sanitation workers have been suspended or accused of any improper procedure.<\/p>\n
“This is currently the subject of an active NYPD investigation, and I can’t provide comment while that is underway, but I will be sure to update you as we have anything to share,” Mamdani said.<\/p>\n
The victim of the crash was identified as 50-year-old Carlos Asitimbay of Queens, whose family told Eyewitness News he had a wife and two children and had been a livery cab driver in the city for 20 years.<\/p>\n
The Sanitation Department also declined to comment on the investigation.<\/p>\n
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