May have been sleet. Possibly driving too rapidly for the downslope curve with icy patches. And all the other vehicles were following too closely for the weather and sporadically changing road conditions at the time. Double or triple spacing between each vehicle may have been beneficial.
Spacing and lower speeds are ALWAYS beneficial regardless of conditions, moreso in winter. Too bad many people are vastly overconfident in their abilities.
The other thing is that this part of the Turnpike is tight, with eastbound and westbound are separated by a Jersey Barrier and the headlights from opposite traffic are right in your eyes...the Road was built in 1940..
That is true, for sure, having grown up in Upstate NY and being no stranger to winter weather.
However, the problem is, when you do that, some impatient, arrogant, moron uses that space to weave in and out of traffic, just to gain a couple more minutes in time.
Hence, it once again becomes unsafe, no matter what precautions you take.
Nope. Other truck drivers there at the time said roads were wet but not icy.