ROME — The driver of a commercial truck that rolled over on an exit ramp from State Route 49 has been identified as Michael Lucas, 39, of Turin.
Lucas died when his tractor-trailer lost control while navigating the exit ramp to Martin Street on Oct. 3 at around 8:45 a.m., according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol.
Speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash, though the investigation remains ongoing.
The dump-style trailer was loaded with stone material and belonged to Real Deal Landscaping of Cold Brook.
Lucas was driving westbound on State Route 49 when he took the off-ramp to Martin Street and lost control of the vehicle.
The tractor-trailer drifted off the western side of the exit ramp roadway and struck a guide rail near a bridge crossing a small creek.
The truck then rolled over the guide rail and came to rest with the tractor cab upside down.
Emergency medical personnel from the Rome Fire Department and AmCare Ambulance responded to the scene and determined Lucas was deceased.
The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit and Forensic Unit investigated due to the fatal nature of the crash.
The exit ramp remains closed while the New York State Department of Transportation inspects the structural integrity of the bridge for future traffic safety.
Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including New York State Police, the state police Commercial Motor Vehicle Unit, state Department of Environmental Conservation, state Department of Transportation, Rome Fire Department, AmCare Ambulance, Mike’s Towing & Auto Repair and the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office.
