One Dead and State Trooper Injured in Meadowbrook Parkway Accident

State trooper injured

GARDEN CITY, NY – According to Abc7ny.com, a pedestrian was killed and a state trooper was injured as a result of a chain of events that started with a single vehicle crash.

The incidents occurred on Zeckendorf Boulevard in Nassau County. Michael Patterson, 39 had crashed on the side of the road. Patterson exited his disabled vehicle, a 1992 Volvo. Police responded to the scene at about 12 p.m.

Another driver, Brett Belferder, 31, collided with the two responding officer’s vehicles and hit Patterson. Patterson was killed, and one of the troopers suffered injuries.

Belferder was also injured and was transported to the hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Heavy rainfall was reported at the time of the crash, and it is not yet clear whether the rain was a factor in the incidents. Emergency crews arrived on the scene, and the roads were backed up as a result of the crash.

Initially, lanes in both directions were closed down, but the southbound lanes were moving by about 1:30 in the afternoon. The delays continued because of rubbernecking.

The northbound lanes were closed until late in the afternoon.

When a person’s vehicle is disabled along the side of the highway, it is important to remain in the vehicle is at all possible. Many accidents involve vehicles hitting people or other vehicles that are pulled to the side of a highway. Pedestrians who exit vehicles on these roads are extremely close to fast-moving traffic. This puts them at high risk of being fatally struck by oncoming traffic. It is best to remain in the vehicle with the seatbelt still fastened.