Officers injured

[ex-commish 490]

Lets pray for these guys...

Tractor-trailer crashes into group of motorcycle cops on Route 9W in Orangetown

By Steve Lieberman • The Journal News • February 7, 2008

PALISADES - A tractor-trailer this afternoon apparently crashed into a group of motorcycle police officers returning to New Jersey from a funeral procession, Orangetown police said.

Early reports indicated that at least two motorcyclists were seriously injured, with one possibly suffering a severed arm or leg, police said.

The motorcyclists were riding south on Route 9W when the tractor-trailer going north crashed into them, near the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Orangetown Police Detective Lt. John McAndrew said.

The injured were being treated and taken by helicopter to a hospital. Emergency personnel were setting up a landing area about a half-mile from the accident, McAndrew said.

"They were planning to take the injured by ambulance to the landing area," McAndrew said.

He said he believed the motorcyclists were from New Jersey police departments. They were in uniform, he said.

Initial reports indicated the tractor-trailer driver was going uphill and around a bend and could have crossed into the southbound lane, he said.

"We don't know yet if the tractor-trailer driver veered too far to the left around the bend and crossed the double-yellow line or what exactly happened," McAndrew said.

He said after the injured were moved to a hospital, the police department's accident investigation team would begin work at the scene.