WOODBURY – State Police have released the identity of the man killed in a collision between his car and a tractor-trailer on the Thruway in Woodbury on Monday.
The victim was identified as Sama Exantus, 25, of Monroe, who was driving a 1997 Ford Escort southbound in the highway. Police said he pulled onto the shoulder just after passing exit 16 southbound and then attempted to re-enter the roadway when he pulled into the driving lane and failed to yield the right of way to a Penske truck that was traveling southbound in the driving lane.
The driver of the truck, John Abernathy, 59, of Pine Bush, was unable to stop or avoid striking the Ford in the rear.
Exantus suffered fatal injuries as a result of the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Abernathy was not injured in the crash.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by Troop F Collision Reconstruction Unit and BCI, Troop T Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit and Thruway maintenance.
