State Police cruiser involved in highway crash

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November 5, 2008

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG The Press Republican Thu Nov 06, 2008, 05:45 AM EST

BEEKMANTOWN -- Officials are investigating an accident that left a State Police trooper and two West Chazy men in the hospital Tuesday evening.

Trooper Travis Capen was on routine patrols around 6 p.m. when his marked cruiser collided with a van on Interstate 87.

State Police Lt. Charles Potthast said the 28-year-old Valcour-based trooper was following the van in the southbound driving lane when the crash occurred.

The impact of the rear-end collision sent the Chevy van veering down an embankment and into a group of trees.

State Police officials and at least three ambulance crews responded within minutes and later closed off the southbound lanes of the highway.

Capen sustained minor injuries in the accident and was taken to CVPH Medical Center, as was the driver of the van, Wayne Fountain, 64, and his passenger, David Trombley, 59, both of whom complained of neck and back pain. Capen and Fountain were later released from the Plattsburgh hospital.

Trombley, who also suffered a leg injury in the crash, was listed in stable condition Wednesday afternoon.

The accident left a portion of the highway near Exit 40 closed to traffic for several hours as officials investigated the collision.

They were still investigating Wednesday afternoon and said no tickets had been issued at that time.

Officials said it could take several days to determine the exact cause of the crash.

avanvalkenburg@

pressrepublican.com