GRAND ISLAND: Bridge accident claims life

October 14, 2008 11:45 pm

— A motorcycle accident that fatally injured a Cheektowaga man caused a massive traffic snarl on the northbound North Grand Island Bridge Tuesday morning.
New York State Police said 32-year-old John Zbock Jr. of Beach Road in Cheektowaga was pronounced dead at the scene after his motorcycle struck the back of a pickup truck, slid into a passing lane and under a slow-moving tractor trailer just after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
State Trooper Daniel Golinski said investigators believe Zbock struck the pickup truck while attempting to maneuver around a disabled vehicle in the right northbound lane of the north bridge of the I-190 in Grand Island. Golinski said it appears as though the driver of the pickup truck stopped in order to avoid a collision with the disabled vehicle and Zbock tried, unsuccessfully, to move into the left lane to avoid the truck. Instead, Golinski said, Zbock’s motorcycle hit the pickup in the rear, causing the operator to lose control and slide into the undercarriage of a passing tractor trailer.
“His hand hit the truck’s back bumper and that’s what caused him to lose control,” Golinski said.
The fatal crash forced the closure of the northbound bridge and caused backups for several hours during the morning’s rush hour traffic. During the delay, Golinski said police rerouted northbound vehicles using the southbound bridge. Golinski said the accident was cleared around 10 a.m., allowing authorities to reopen the northbound lanes.
Golinski said no one was charged in connection with the accident which remains under investigation.
During the initial incident, state police were forced to deal with another crash involving five vehicles in the southbound lanes. The second accident occurred around 7:20 a.m. Golinski said no one was injured, but both southbound lanes had to be closed briefly until the vehicles could be cleared. State police believe the second accident was most likely the result of “rubbernecker” delays related to the earlier, fatal crash.
Contact reporter Mark Scheer
at 282-2311, ext. 2250.

Photos

James Neiss/staff photographer Grand Island, NY - New York State Police examine a tractor trailer that a motorcyclist slid under, after hitting a pickup truck on the Northbound, North Grand Island bridge. The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene.