BINGHAMTON — The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash that occurred Thursday morning on Interstate 81 south at the Exit 12 off-ramp.
The accident happened at approximately 11:05 a.m. when a red SUV struck a U-Haul truck towing a vehicle, causing the U-Haul operator to lose control and collide with a New York State Department of Transportation attenuator truck.
Sheriff’s deputies and emergency personnel arrived to find the U-Haul truck on fire with the driver trapped inside.
Sheriff’s office members and DOT personnel worked to extinguish the flames until Binghamton Fire Department crews arrived and successfully put out the fire.
Firefighters extricated the U-Haul operator from the vehicle and transported the person to UHS Wilson Medical Center.
The U-Haul operator was pronounced dead at the hospital at approximately 12:40 p.m.
The initial investigation revealed both vehicles were traveling southbound on Route 81 after merging from Route 17 eastbound when the SUV attempted to merge across several lanes to reach the Exit 12 off-ramp.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash.
The identity of the deceased operator will be released pending notification of next of kin.
