NICHOLS, NY — A 70-year-old man from Ontario was killed early Friday when his tractor-trailer struck a disabled SUV and crashed down an embankment on State Route 17/Interstate 86.
New York State Police at Owego were dispatched to the scene between exits 63 and 62 in the town of Nichols at approximately 1:53 a.m.
A preliminary investigation determined that a 2020 Mitsubishi SUV was traveling west on State Route 17 when the vehicle went off the roadway and struck a guard rail.
The vehicle became inoperable due to airbag deployment and was stopped partially in the right lane.
The operator of the Mitsubishi, Kaden T. Watson, 21, of Warren Center, Pennsylvania, exited the vehicle just as a tractor-trailer that was also traveling west struck the Mitsubishi.
The tractor-trailer continued west, off the roadway down an embankment and into a tree.
The operator of the tractor-trailer was located inside the cab deceased.
Watson did not report any injuries and did not show any signs of impairment.
Members of the Nichols Volunteer Fire Department, Tioga Center Fire & EMS and the Tioga Sheriff’s Department assisted on scene.
The New York State Department of Transportation assisted with the road closure.
Members of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Collision Reconstruction Unit and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit responded to the scene.
The passing lane was reopened at 3:15 p.m. Friday, while the right lane remained closed pending completion of cleanup.
