Bruce Plunkett, a PEF member and 46-year-old code compliance specialist stationed in Peeksville, was killed June 24 when his state-issued van collided with a tractor-trailer.
Plunkett was on his way to give building and fire inspectors a basic training course at the Westchester County Fire Training Facility in Valhalla.
Plunkett’s vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet Astro van registered to the Department of State (DOS), was heavily damaged, making the emergency extrication effort complicated, according to the police report.
Plunkett drove over the double-yellow lines of Route 9A near the service road in front of the La Quinta Inn and crashed into the Peterbuilt flatbed tractor-trailer, according to the report. An investigation into the accident is continuing.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.
Plunkett had been with the DOS Division of Code Enforcement and Administration for only nine weeks.
PEF President Ken Brynien sent a letter of condolence to Plunkett’s wife, Valerie, on behalf of the union, informing her of possible benefits and offering the assistance of PEF staff.
Plunkett’s name will be added to the memorial at PEF headquarters.
PEF has requested a health and safety meeting with the DOS managers to discuss the issues surrounding the accident, and the safety of the agency’s fleet, as well as defensive driving training for staff.
The van driven by Plunkett was scheduled to have a safety cage installed, but it did not have the cage at the time of the accident.
— Deborah A. Miles
