A distracted driver adjusting clothing behind the wheel struck a New York State Police vehicle on the Southern State Parkway early Sunday, injuring a trooper and herself, according to authorities.
The crash happened around 5:43 a.m. on April 12 in the eastbound lanes just west of Exit 14, where troopers had stopped to manage traffic in a hazardous area.
State police said a gray Jeep Wrangler slammed into the rear of a marked patrol vehicle at approximately 5:47 a.m., pushing it from the right lane into the center and left lanes. The Jeep then left the roadway and came to rest on the shoulder.
Investigators later determined the driver, identified as Monica Diaz Cabera, 26, was traveling at an unsafe speed and failed to move over for the emergency vehicle. She told police she was distracted while adjusting her boot and socks at the time of the collision.
Both the trooper and Cabera were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released.
State police used the incident to reiterate warnings about distracted driving, which remains a leading cause of crashes and poses significant risks to first responders working along roadways.
Officials are reminding motorists to stay alert, avoid distractions, and follow move-over laws when approaching emergency vehicles.
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