Hofstra unispan walkway closed after truck crash
Hofstra University unispan bridge over Hempstead Turnpike after truck's crane crashed into it. Credit: @jacoblewismedia/Jacob Lewis
A pedestrian walkway that links the north and south sides of the Hofstra University campus over Hempstead Turnpike is closed indefinitely after it was struck by a truck Thursday, according to a statement from a university spokeswoman.
The lift bed of the truck, used to haul dumpsters, was raised and struck the bottom of the walkway, known as the unispan, shortly after 2 p.m., Nassau County police said. The driver of the truck was taken to a hospital for injuries sustained in the crash but nobody on the campus was hurt, Hofstra spokeswoman Karla Schuster said.
The walkway is between the Student Center and the Axinn Library. It is one of three campus walkways over Hempstead Turnpike. It will be closed until repairs can be made and an inspection can be completed by the Town of Hempstead, Schuster said. The Axinn Library and the Student Center remain open.
Hofstra student Jacob Lewis, the photo editor of the Hofstra Chronicle campus newspaper, said he saw a post on Instagram about the crash. He grabbed his camera and rushed to the scene. “There were a whole lot of police cars and there were ambulances everywhere, along with the Hofstra Public Safety Department,” Lewis said.
The accident remains under investigation by the Nassau County Police Department, Schuster said.
Students and others who need to cross Hempstead Turnpike should use the elevated walkway between the Saltzman Community Services Center and the Netherlands residence halls.
