A tractor trailer leaked gallons of latex paint onto the center lane of eastbound Interstate 287, coloring the center lane a vibrant shade of sky blue and causing a number of drivers to question whether their eyes were playing tricks on them.
The spill took place in the early morning hours of Aug. 31 and left a five-mile stretch of 287 between White Plains and Rye painted blue. The New York State Thruway Authority said several cars received unwanted paint jobs as a result although the exact number of vehicles damaged wasn”™t available.
Public Information Officer Betsy Feldstein said the authority expected the trucking company or its insurance carrier to pay for the damages. Latex paint dries quickly, and Feldstein said no cleanup was necessary. The paint is still visible on the stretch but has mostly faded.
An Old Dominion Trucking tractor trailer hauling cans of paint was the culprit, though state police said it wasn”™t clear what caused the leak. Stacked cans in the back of the truck popped open or broke for an unknown reason and spilled paint onto the floor of the trailer. The paint accumulated in the trailer then flowed out from under the back door in a smooth, even coat.
A state police spokesman said the driver noticed the spill after several miles, pulled to the side of the highway and called police to file a report.
