Dangling Tractor Trailer Causes Major Backup On Sheridan Expressway

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A tractor trailer dangling over the Sheridan Expressway backed up drivers in all directions for hours Monday afternoon.

The accident could not have come at worst time for drivers as everyone was packing up from the beach and heading home from Memorial Day weekend, CBS2's Ali Bauman reported. The trailer was holding up traffic in all four directions of the cross Bronx and Sheridan expressways.

Pablo Lopez told CBS2's Tracee Carrasco he walked away from his 18-wheel tractor trailer after he was headed southbound and a vehicle cut him off.

"I stay in the lane in the middle, car got close to the wheel in the front," he said.

Lopez then hit a car in front and his tractor trailer then crushed a white minivan behind him.

After nearly four hours suspended over the highway, a crane was finally able to pull the cab of the car up over the guard rail. Lanes were reopened as of 6 p.m. Monday, though delays were still expected.

"It appeared that the tractor trailer lost control and hit another car and then swayed and hit the side of the divider on the cross Bronx," Fire Chief Vincent Mosca said.

Lopez climbed several feet out of the hanging cab onto the Sheridan below, amazingly with only minor injuries. He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he got seven staples on the top of his head.  Lopez, who lives in Florida and has been a truck driver for 18 years, says this close call won't slow him down.

"I feel very, very lucky," he said.

Crews are still working to repair the gaping hole in the guardrail. The fire department told CBS2 there was no cargo inside the tractor trailer, which may have helped it from completely going plunging over the edge.