WESTPORT, N.Y. — Two drivers were injured Friday morning when an Adirondack Trailways bus collided with a tractor-trailer in what is being referred to as the I-87 Westport crash on northbound Interstate 87 in the Essex County town of Westport, according to New York State Police.
Troopers responded at approximately 6:08 a.m. Oct. 2. State Police said the bus struck the trailer of a Freightliner tractor-trailer, after which the truck left the roadway and struck trees.
Both drivers suffered injuries that State Police described as non-life-threatening. There were no passengers or other occupants aboard the bus, police said.
What investigators say happened
According to the preliminary State Police investigation, a 2022 Adirondack Trailways bus was traveling north on I-87 when it struck the trailer of a 2023 Freightliner tractor-trailer.
Police identified the bus driver as Michel Pisarski, 64, of Longueuil, Quebec. State Police said Pisarski was the only person aboard the bus at the time of the collision.
The tractor-trailer driver was identified as Timothy A. Zabek, 48, of Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Following the impact, State Police said Zabek lost control of the tractor-trailer. The truck exited the roadway onto the eastern shoulder, continued forward, struck trees and came to rest.
Both drivers taken for medical treatment
State Police said both operators sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to CVPH for further medical treatment.
The release did not describe the specific injuries or say how the drivers were transported from the crash scene. It also did not say whether either driver had been released from medical care as of the State Police announcement.
No passengers were on the Adirondack Trailways bus, avoiding the possibility of a larger number of injuries in a crash involving a commercial passenger vehicle.
Investigation remains open
State Police described the crash investigation as ongoing. The agency did not announce any traffic tickets or criminal charges and did not state what investigators believe caused the bus to strike the trailer.
Important questions therefore remain unanswered, including the relative positions of the two vehicles immediately before the collision, road and visibility conditions at the time, and whether mechanical or driver-related factors contributed.
Those details may become clearer as investigators complete interviews, review physical evidence and examine the vehicles. The initial State Police release should be understood as a preliminary account rather than a final crash determination.
Early-morning crash on the Northway
Interstate 87, commonly known as the Adirondack Northway north of Albany, is a major route linking the Capital Region with the North Country and the Canadian border. Westport is in Essex County, south of Plattsburgh.
The collision occurred during the early-morning travel period. State Police did not report in the release how long the crash affected northbound traffic, whether lanes were closed, or when the tractor-trailer was removed from the roadside.
Because commercial vehicles can require specialized towing and recovery equipment, crashes involving buses and tractor-trailers can create extended traffic disruptions even when injuries are not life-threatening. In this case, however, the State Police release focused on the condition of the two drivers and the continuing investigation.
No passengers aboard bus
The fact that the bus had no passengers is one of the most significant details in the initial report. State Police specifically noted that there were no other occupants on the bus when the collision occurred.
Adirondack Trailways provides intercity bus service across New York and other destinations. The State Police release did not say whether the bus was traveling to pick up passengers, had completed a route, or was otherwise operating without passengers at that hour.
Utica Phoenix has not independently verified the bus’s scheduled route, and the State Police release does not provide that information.
What drivers should know
Motorists traveling through an active crash scene should follow directions from police, firefighters and transportation crews, reduce speed and leave additional space around emergency vehicles and roadside workers.
Drivers should also avoid drawing conclusions about fault from an initial crash report. Collision investigations can involve vehicle inspections, witness statements, roadway evidence and other information that may not be available immediately.
In this case, State Police have not assigned fault in the public release. The agency’s statement says only that the bus struck the tractor-trailer’s trailer and that the truck subsequently left the roadway.
State Police continuing investigation
Troop B is handling the investigation. State Police identified Trooper Brandi M. Ashley as the Troop B public information officer and Major Peter C. Arcadi as the troop commander.
As of the Oct. 2 release, both drivers were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries and the investigation remained open. No additional occupants were reported in either vehicle beyond the two drivers, and no fatalities were reported.
Source: New York State Police, Oct. 2, 2026. This article will be updated if State Police release significant new information about the cause of the collision or the condition of those involved.
