Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Tractor Trailer Plunge Off Staten Island Expressway
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday afternoon, a tractor-trailer dangled from the side of the Staten Island Expressway. Authorities believe the driver, James Christian of North Carolina, may have lost control of the rig when another car stopped short.
The tractor-trailer fell off the SIE onto South Avenue - hitting the front of 61-year-old Jenetta Christopherson's car. Christopherson, who was driving with her baby granddaughter, said she was lucky she braked when she heard a loud noise above her, "If I kept going, he would have ended up on top of my car."
Another driver on South Avenue swerved onto the sidewalk to avoid the truck; Dion Serrano told the Staten Island Advance, "All I saw was the bottom end of the truck, the bottom end, just tires, flying over me."
The truck's cab was crushed and Christian was removed by firefighters. He suffered a number of broken bones and is in stable but guarded condition at Richmond University Medical Center. A crane lifted the tractor-trailer (which was empty, after a delivery in Brooklyn) from the scene a few hours later while the FDNY soaked up 100 gallons of fuel.
Tagged
All I
baby
brooklyn
fdny
If I
medical center
News: NYC
North Carolina
staten island
Staten Island Advance
staten island expressway
the tractor
university
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Republican Jeff Van Drew concedes NJ congressional seat in surprise victory for Democrats
Smalltown Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock’s likely victory could mark a historic night for Democrats.
By
Mike Hayes
and
Karen Yi
Published Nov 3, 2026 at 11:24 p.m. ET
NYC voters appear poised to approve outdoor dining, bike lane ballot measures
All five proposed changes to the city charter are leading, including measures to streamline outdoor dining permits and speed up bike and bus lane projects.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NYC voters appear poised to approve outdoor dining, bike lane ballot measures
All five proposed changes to the city charter are leading, including measures to streamline outdoor dining permits and speed up bike and bus lane projects.
By
Giulia Heyward
Rebecca Bennett flips NJ Republican House seat for Democrats
By
Mike Hayes
and
Karen Yi
Mamdani allies Valdez, Avila Chevalier win House seats for New York
By
Jon Campbell
Kathy Hochul re-elected New York governor, defeats Bruce Blakeman
By
Jon Campbell
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .