A man whose car was crushed underneath a tractor-trailer on 787 Thursday walked away from it with just a cut on his finger.
Friday we learned that 28-year-old Jelani L. Reyes-Craig of Watervliet was issued traffic tickets for Unsafe Lane Change, Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent, Drove Across Hazardous Markings, Unsafe Tire, and the misdemeanor of Reckless Driving.
Police say he was northbound near the 23rd Street exit and tried to pass the truck, which was fully loaded with 40,000 pounds of flour.
He hit a guardrail, bounced off, hit the semi, which tipped over and crushed the man's car. Fortunately, he was thrown to the passenger side, which was slightly less compressed under the weight of the truck. It took about 30 minutes to cut the man out of the car.
Watervliet Fire Chief Tom Garrett called it "one of a kind." The driver of the truck, Christopher Bacon of Fort Edward was not injured.
The accident remains under investigation.
Photo: Watervliet Police