Tappan Zee Bridge- Fatal MVA 9-13-05

[Truck4 48]

Date: 9-13-05

Time: 1510hrs

Location: Tappan Zee Bridge- Westchester bound, 1/2 mile west of super-structure.

Frequency:

Units Operating: See Below*

Description Of Incident: Tractor Trailer struck passenger car from behind.

Writer: Truck4

*Units Operating:

Land Units: Tarrytown, Nyack, West Nyack, Central Nyack FD; Tarrytown and Nyack EMS; NYSP; Stat Flight.

Marine Units: Tarrytown Fireboat 5, Sleepy Hollow Fireboat 7, Nyack 10-Marine, Piermont 13-Marine; NYS Thruway Authority; Yonkers Police Marine 1, Rockland County Sherriff's, U.S. Coast Guard Sector NY (2 vessels).

1510hrs- Multiple agencies recieving numerous calls for MVA on Tappan Zee Bridge. Some reporting a vehicle off the bridge. Also multiple boaters reporting on marine radio Ch. 16 of an explosion and fire on the bridge.

1515hrs- Thruway Authority reporting a tractor trailer on fire, eastbound right lane, closer to the Rockland side. Nyack and Tarrytoen FD's responding, along with NYSP. Also reports of a person involved in the accident to have jumped from the bridge. Tractor trailer rear ended a passenger vehicle in the right lane of the bridge. No vehicle has left the roadway. Tractor, trailer and passenger vehicle are fully involved. Unk. contents of trailer ATT.

1517hrs- Boaters reporting to the Coast Guard that the pilings at the base of the bridge on fire. Rockland County Sheriff's and Yonkers Police Marine units responding. Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Piermont and Nyack Fire boats req.

1519hrs- Thruway Authority tug boat putting water on the fire. Reports of a driver involved in the accident jumped in the river with severe burns.

1525hrs- Bridge contractors have person removed from water in private vessel and is bringing victim to shore on the Rockland side. Nyack units dropping lines into the river from the bridge for drafting. Tarrytown units responding westbound in the eastbound lanes. Bridge is shut in both directions. 2-Command req. Stat Flight for victim removed from river. LZ to be on the west side of the Thruway.

1527hrs- 2-Command req. 24-Tanker and 10-Tanker to respond and stage at the bridge access road. Security zone established in river around scene. No ext. to the base fo the bridge.

1545hrs- Main body of fire K/D. NYSP req. Accident Investigation Unit to scene. (1) DOA in passenger vehicle.