Christmas tree truck hits Hutch overpass

Traffic was backed up for miles this afternoon when a truck carrying Christmas trees slammed into an overpass on the Hutchinson River Parkway. The accident happened at around 1:30 p.m. between exits 9 and 10 at the East 3rd Street overpass. The impact ripped open the hood and right side of the truck, spilling trees, wreaths and red bows into the highway's northbound lanes. Residents say drivers repeatedly make the same mistake. "I can't believe a truck driver would still not see all the signs," says Claire Palello, of Pelham. "This happens so often." Police say there have been 40 similar accidents across the county, 31 of which have been on the Hutch. Cleanup crews have removed all of the debris.