Eric J. Hurley, 38, of Albany, has been identified as the man who died in the head-on collision caused by a wrong-way driver early Sunday on Interstate 787. State Police confirmed that the other driver, 44-year-old Lewis Thomas of Coxsackie, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash happened just before 4:39 a.m. near Exit 2 on I-787 northbound. According to a trooper press release, Hurley’s vehicle was struck head-on by Thomas’s SUV traveling the wrong way. First responders arriving at the scene found both cars extensively damaged. Hurley’s injuries were fatal; he was declared dead at the scene. Thomas was taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment.
Because the force of that impact was severe, investigators closed all I-787 northbound lanes between the I-87 Thruway and Exit 3 to reconstruct the crash site. The closure was expected to last until around noon. As of the latest update, the investigation remains active while officials dig into how Thomas may have ended up traveling the wrong direction.
That tragic collision was only the beginning. Around 7 a.m. that same morning, a second, unrelated crash occurred near Exit 5. Authorities say a vehicle carrying three people veered off the road and plunged down an embankment. Two passengers were killed on the spot; the driver survived and was hospitalized.
By midday, local prosecutors alleged that alcohol may have played a role in both crashes. Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon pointed out that early signs at both scenes suggested intoxication. In the second crash, a 25-year-old Albany woman — Imahjai Sutherland — was later charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and DWI, as well as manslaughter and assault counts.
For now, no charges have been filed in the wrong-way collision involving Hurley, and law enforcement is moving cautiously. While the investigations continue, authorities are urging every motorist to stay alert, avoid distractions, and never drive under the influence. In days like these, those reminders aren’t just safety tips—they may save lives.