A Virginia woman crashed into a crash attenuator on Interstate 81 in Chenango, Broome County, Monday afternoon, according to New York State Police.
SUV crashes into attenuator
The 81-year-old Fredericksburg, Virginia, woman was driving north on Interstate 81 in Chenango when her SUV struck an attenuator in a work zone near mile marker 18 at about 2:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, State Police said.
No injuries were reported. Traffic slowed in the area following the crash.
Trooper Aga Tinker urged motorists to "use extra caution when traveling through work zones."
"Drivers should slow down, remain alert, follow posted speed limits and work-zone signs and be prepared for sudden traffic pattern changes," Tinker said.
What is a crash attenuator?
A crash attenuator, also known as a crash cushion, is a highway safety
device designed to absorb the energy of a collision and help stop or redirect a vehicle safely, according to the New York State Department of Transportation.
New York uses several types of attenuators, including:
- Truck-mounted attenuators: Crash cushions attached to the back of slow-moving vehicles.
- Temporary impact attenuators: Portable crash cushions placed in construction and work zones.
- Permanent attenuators: Fixed safety systems installed near stationary hazards such as bridge piers, gore points where highways split and sign supports. They can use sand barrels, steel beams or specialized cylinders to slow or redirect an out-of-control vehicle.
Headline: Virginia woman crashes into I-81 work-zone safety device in New York
Page title: I-81 crash: Virginia woman hits work-zone safety device in NY
URL slug: i81-crash-virginia-woman-new-york-work-zone
Deck: An 81-year-old woman struck a crash attenuator Monday afternoon in Chenango, Broome County. No injuries were reported.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Woman crashes into I-81 work-zone safety device in New York
