Colonie Police investigating 3-car crash

Colonie Police are continuing to investigate after a 3-car crash on New Loudon Road Saturday morning.

The crash happened at around 9:55 a.m. near the intersection with the Boght/North Colonie Baseball complex entrance.

Two of the vehicles rolled over, one caught fire, and all three drivers were injured, one critically, police said.

The drivers are identified as 39-year-old Walid Nehma of Latham, 32-year-old Thomas Murray of Cohoes, and 54-year-old Melissa Halse of Loudonville.

Nearby bystanders assisted a driver out of a car on fire and helped to extinguish the flames.

All three drivers were transported by ambulance to Albany Medical Center.

The road, also known as Route 9, was completely shut down for several hours while the Colonie Police investigated.

Northbound lanes reopened at 4:30 p.m., and Route 9 was completely reopened at around 5:40 p.m. Saturday evening, police said.

According to police, one of the drivers claims a chain reaction crash was started after a vehicle pulled out of a parking lot causing multiple cars to swerve, with one crossing lanes striking a southbound car head-on while another went off the road, striking an embankment and rolling over.

The investigation is ongoing, but impairment doesn’t appear to be a factor in the crash but speed may have played a role.

The Colonie Police Traffic Division is asking anyone who may have information or video of the crash to contact them at 518-783-2744.