Clarkstown, NY — June 21, 2025, One person was killed and one was injured following an 18-wheeler accident at around 3:00 A.M. on I-87.
According to reports, a Subaru WRX operated by Brian Tortora was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes on Interstate 87 near exit 12, when it collided with an 18-wheeler, before then being struck by a second semi. The second tractor-trailer also collided with the first 18-wheeler.
When first responders arrived they found Tortora deceased, and the driver of one of the 18-wheeler’s also sustained moderate injuries and was taken to the hospital. Authorities have not released an update on the status of the investigation, and a possible cause for the crash is currently unknown.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a car is driving the wrong way on an interstate and collides with two 18-wheelers, the natural reaction is to focus on the most obvious question: How did that vehicle end up traveling against traffic in the first place?
According to reports, a Subaru WRX was moving northbound in the southbound lanes of I-87 when it collided head-on with a semi-truck and was then struck again by a second. The second 18-wheeler also hit the first one. That sequence suggests a high-speed, multi-impact event—and raises immediate questions about visibility, reaction time, and whether anything could have been done to avoid the chain reaction once it began.
At first glance, many people may assume the crash was unavoidable given that one vehicle was clearly moving the wrong way. But in serious truck accident investigations, we don’t stop with the obvious—we look deeper. Even in a wrong-way scenario, the circumstances surrounding how each truck responded matter. Did either truck have time to swerve or brake? Were either of the drivers distracted, fatigued, or otherwise impaired in their ability to react?
Those aren’t accusations—they’re questions that can only be answered through evidence. Dash cam footage, black box data, and driver logs will all help determine how the trucks were operating and whether their responses aligned with professional driving standards. I’ve worked on cases where black box data showed that a truck was going too fast to react safely, even though the crash itself wasn’t the trucker’s fault. That kind of detail matters when figuring out exactly how a chain reaction unfolded.
Another important question is whether there were any barriers, signage, or road designs that failed to prevent the wrong-way entry in the first place. While that falls more into the category of roadway design than driver behavior, it’s still part of understanding how the situation came to be. These types of wrong-way crashes don’t just happen out of nowhere—they typically involve a mistake at an entry point, and sometimes that mistake is made easier by poor signage or confusing layouts.
Right now, officials haven’t released a cause or update on the investigation. That makes it even more critical for someone to preserve the key pieces of evidence—because in a multi-vehicle crash involving two commercial trucks, there’s a lot more going on than most people realize at first glance.
Key Takeaways:
- The central question is how the Subaru ended up traveling the wrong way on I-87.
- Even when a wrong-way driver is involved, truck drivers’ responses must be carefully examined.
- Black box data and dash cam footage will help clarify how quickly the trucks reacted.
- Roadway signage and entry points may also be relevant to understanding how the crash began.
- The full picture requires a detailed, evidence-based investigation, which is still ongoing.
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