Truck driver falls asleep at wheel, crashes at ramp on I-87

A truck driver fell asleep at the wheel on the Northway overnight, crashing into a guiderail and causing rush hour traffic delays.

State Police say 38-year-old Erasmo Aviles-Rios of Schenectady was driving a tractor-trailer carrying 10,000 pounds of cardboard on the I-87 southbound when, at around 4:52 a.m., he fell asleep while driving up the ramp at exit 6.

Aviles-Rios drove through the intersection of State Route 7, striking the guiderail on the south side of Route 7 and driving into a marshy area, according to State Police spokesperson Maureen Tuffey.

The trailer remained intact and there were no injuries, though drivers on Route 7 were caught in rush-hour traffic delays as crews closed some lanes to tow the tractor-trailer from the marsh.

An investigation revealed Aviles-Rios entered false log book entries indicating he had been in his sleeper berth since midnight when he in fact was driving.

Troopers also discovered he was driving beyond the 11-hour driving limit and the 14-hour on-duty limit.

Aviles-Rios was ticketed for the log book violations.

"Driving fatigue is a critical issue in commercial vehicle safety, and the only reason this incident did not result in a more seriosu collision is that it occurred at 4:52 a.m.," said Trooper Tuffey in a text statement. "At most other times of day, Route 7 is a heavily traveled roadway at this area."