A truck driver hauling a piece of heavy duty equipment is facing charges in New York.
The New York State Police (NYSP) have charged a North Carolina man following an investigation into a big rig that struck multiple overpasses along the New York State Thruway in Central New York, according to a NYSP press release.
At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, State Police received a report from the Thruway Authority that a tractor-trailer hauling an over-height excavator on a flatbed trailer had struck multiple overpasses while traveling westbound between Exits 30 and 36.
Syracuse troopers located a 2019 Freightliner and conducted a traffic stop at the Mattydale tandem lot in Salina. The operator was identified as Oleksander Tarakanovskyi, 38, of North Carolina.
NYSP said the investigation determined that the vehicle struck more than a dozen overpasses over approximately 60 miles. Members of the State Police Troop T Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, along with Thruway Traffic Safety, Maintenance, and Bridge Inspection units responded to assess the damage.
Police say no injuries were reported, and there were no lane closures or significant traffic impacts as a result of the incident.
Authorities report that the majority of the overpasses sustained minor damage, while a few sustained moderate damage.
“The women and men of Troop T dedicate themselves each day to enforcing the law and making the Thruway one of the safest highways in the nation,” State Police Troop T Commander Major Brian T. Ferrone said. “Reckless, egregious behavior will not be tolerated. I commend our uniform troopers and members of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit for their swift actions in removing this hazard from the road, preventing potential injury to other motorists. We thank the Thruway Authority for its continued partnership.”
All lanes and overpasses remain open, and bridge inspections are ongoing to assess any additional structural impacts.
“Reckless and ignorant driver behavior has serious consequences,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said. “How a tractor-trailer driver could be unaware that his load hit more than a dozen bridges is beyond comprehension. We appreciate the support of our partners at State Police Troop T and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit in tracking down the vehicle and taking it off the road. Our team of inspectors has examined all of the impacted bridges and while all continue to be safe, we will proceed with repairs as needed. While bridge hits plague states across the nation, we are committed to holding irresponsible drivers accountable.”
Tarakanovskyi was charged with reckless endangerment in the 2nd degree. He was also issued more than 20 traffic tickets related to the incident, including for violations of federal commercial motor vehicle safety regulations.
Tarakanovskyi was processed and released with a court date on April 8, 2026.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
