Four killed in Thruway accident
Tuxedo - Four people are confirmed dead after an empty tanker truck hit a minivan on the New York State Thruway at 7 a.m. this morning. The accident occurred 2 miles south of the Harriman exit. State police say there were six people in the minivan.
Police say that the minivan was disabled in the northbound right lane, not the shoulder, with the emergency flashers on. The tanker truck hit the minivan from behind. Both the tanker truck and minivan went over the guard rail and down the embankment. According to witnesses the truck never stopped or slowed before impact.
Truckers who stopped managed to pull a young boy from minivan who suffered head injuries.
The driver of the minivan is a 47-year-old woman from Whitestone who died on the scene. Her two boys also died, their exact ages are not yet known.
Three of the four fatalities occured in the minivan, registered in Queens, at the scene. Those included April Lao, 14, of Whitestone (Queens), died at Westchester Medical Center. Her brother, 10-year-old Andy, is in serious condition at Westchester. Their mother, 43-year-old Karen Lao, suffers a spinal injury and is being treated at Good Samaritain Hospital.
The driver of the tanker truck, from New Jersey, was also taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with a shoulder injury.
Investigators are now at area hospitals trying to identify the victims from the van.
Both northbound lanes are now open to traffic. The northbound traffic had been backed up four to five miles earlier this morning. Southbound traffic is flowing smoothly.
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