Sideswiped Tractor-Trailer Overturns On I-87, Killing One

RAMAPO, NY — One person died after a rental car sideswiped a tractor-trailer on the New York State Thruway at 5 a.m. Tuesday, New York State police said.

Victor M. Naula Lopez, 38, of Whitestone, NY, was killed when the 2018 Peterbilt tractor-trailer he was driving north on I-87 in the middle lane was sideswiped by a 2021 Toyota.

The tractor-trailer spun out and crashed into a 2011 Freightliner semi, police said. It then overturned in the woods next to the highway.

The driver of the Toyota ran away, police said.

Naula Lopez was pronounced dead and transported to the Rockland County Medical Examiner’s Office, police said. The Freightliner's driver, Celso A. Lopez, 56, of New Rochelle, New York, was uninjured.

The Toyota, a rental car owned by EAN Holdings LLC, was towed to Troop F headquarters where it is being held as evidence pending forensic processing, police said.

Traffic on the thruway was delayed for hours.