State Police Investigated a Fatal Accident Which Occurred Northbound on I-87 in the Town of Ulster
Major Joseph W. Dodd
Troop T Commander
Ulster, NY – On Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at approximately 8:54 p.m., State Police investigated a fatal accident which occurred on I-87 between Exit 18 (New Paltz) and Exit 19 (Kingston).
The investigation revealed that Vernon W. Bigelow, 47, of St. Albans, VT, was operating a 2008 Freightliner tractor-trailer northbound on I-87, when for an unknown reason his vehicle struck the rear of a northbound 2005 Volvo tractor-trailer, which was being operated by Alex Calle-Cardenas, 28, of New Milford, PA. After striking the Volvo, Bigelow lost control of the vehicle, at which time it continued into the center median striking the guiderail, catching fire.
The Spring Lake Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire.
Bigelow was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ulster County Assistant Medical Examiner.
Calle-Cardenas complained of neck and back pain and declined being transported to a local hospital.
The accident was reconstructed by the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) and is still under investigation.
