Tom Brokaw, wife unhurt in accident that killed 1

December 5, 2009 9:05:15 AM PST

Bob Monek, Eyewitness News

BRONX --

One person was killed in an accident that also involved former network news anchor Tom Brokaw and his wife in the Bronx. The accident happened on the eastbound Bruckner Expressway near the Sheridan Expressway at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

The Brokaws said they were in the far left lane when they noticed a spool of cable bouncing along the far right lane. Just then, according to the Brokaws, a green SUV in the right lane came up fast and tried to avoid the cable.

The driver lost control of her vehicle and slid into the middle lane, forcing a mail truck into the Brokaw's lane of traffic.

Police said the 1998 Ford Expedition had collided with the US Postal truck. The SUV overturned ejecting driver, 30-year-old Suejas Estrada of the Bronx. She was thrown over the railing and down into a rail yard more than 70 feet below.

The 54-year-old driver of the mail truck was taken to Westchester Medical Center with bumps and bruises. He was listed in stable condition. His name has not been released.

Peter Rendina, public information officer from the U.S. Postal Service, also said the accident occurred when the SUV swerved to avoid a spool of wire that had fallen off the back of a truck.

The spool slammed into the 7-ton mail truck's front and the back wheel, he said.

Police said that debris caused the accident, but investigators have not yet located the spool of wire.

As the mail truck careened into their lane, 69-year-old Tom Brokaw hit the brakes and skidded along the median. When the mail truck catapulted the median, the Brokaw vehicle slid into it.