HARRISON – The two people killed when a dump truck hauling a cement mixed crashed into the rear of a pickup truck on I-287 – the Cross Westchester Expressway – in the Town of Harrison at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday, August 19 were a husband and wife from Richmondville in Schoharie County, State Police said.
Police said David Massarotti, 62, was driving his 2005 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck with his wife, 60-year-old Chandra Massarotti, in the front passenger seat, when the dump truck slammed into the rear of the couple’s vehicle, which was slowing down in traffic.
The impact of the crash set off a chain reaction that involved a total of five vehicles.
The dump truck driver, Jorge Pereira, 51, of Ossining, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at White Plains Hospital. He was issued tickets and has cooperated with the investigation, which remains open, troopers said.
The impact of the initial crash led to the Chevrolet Colorado striking a 2014 Honda Accord Crosstour in the rear. That vehicle was driven by Joseph Digiovanni, 42, of Ridgefield, Connecticut.
The Honda then struck a 2013 Chevrolet Express van, driven by Daniel Moreno, 45, of White Plains. The van struck a fifth vehicle, a 2016 Jeep Cherokee, driven by John Gruber, 60, of Cortlandt Manor. Moreno and Gruber did not report any injuries at the scene.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by Troop K BCI and Collision Reconstruction Unit, Troop T Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, Thruway Maintenance and Traffic Safety, Harrison and Purchase Fire Departments and EMS, and Port Chester EMS.
State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the Hawthorne barracks at 914-742-6400.
