ROCKLAND POST DESK
An early morning tractor-trailer fire on Thursday caused 7 hours of delays on the New York State Thruway near Nyack, disrupting the commute for many Rockland County drivers heading toward the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
According to the New York State Police, the truck caught fire around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, March 12, in the southbound lanes of I-87 near Exit 11, close to Route 9W and the bridge approach.
Authorities said the 18-wheel tractor-trailer, owned by Costco, became fully engulfed in flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Emergency crews worked for several hours to extinguish the blaze and safely remove the truck from the roadway. The right and center southbound lanes remained closed for more than seven hours, backing up traffic through the morning rush.
Delays stretched north from Exit 11 to Exit 13 near the entrance to the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Clarkstown. Drivers also had to contend with heavy fog, which reduced visibility and slowed traffic further.
By about 10:15 a.m., State Police said the truck had been cleared and all lanes were reopened.
For many commuters, the incident was a reminder of how important this section of the Thruway is for Rockland County. The stretch leading to the Cuomo Bridge serves as one of the county’s main gateways, carrying thousands of daily commuters as well as regional freight traffic moving between the Hudson Valley, Westchester, and New York City.
Large delivery trucks, including those serving major retailers such as Costco, regularly travel the corridor as goods move between warehouses and stores across the region.
Truck fires, while relatively uncommon, can occur for several reasons. Safety officials say causes often include overheated brakes, mechanical problems, electrical issues, or cargo-related fires. When they do happen, the size of tractor-trailers and the amount of fuel they carry can make them difficult to extinguish quickly.
Even when no one is injured, incidents involving large trucks can lead to long lane closures and major traffic backups, especially in busy commuter corridors like the Thruway near Nyack.
For drivers heading across the Hudson Thursday morning, the delays were a reminder that a single highway incident can quickly ripple across Rockland’s transportation network.