New York State Police have identified the victim of yesterday’s massive pile-up on the State Thruway as a Genesee County man, 64-year-old Edward Torres of Elba.
More than 75 cars and trucks were involved in the pileup which began when a lake effect snow squall with blizzard conditions dropped a whiteout onto the Thruway just west of the Williamsville-Niagara Falls exit. More than 20 vehicles crashed and dozens of others were trapped behind them and unable to get off the highway.
Troopers say a tractor-trailer was forced to stop suddenly in the eastbound lanes in Cheektowaga. Torres was behind it and couldn’t stop, smashing into the back of the truck. He was taken to the Erie County Medical Center and was pronounced dead there.
Multiple people were treated for minor injuries, and one remains in serious condition. It took more than eight hours to clean up the crashed vehicles and reopen the Thruway.