A tractor trailer operator from Canada was killed early Friday morning in a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 86 in the Town of Nichols.
The crash took place shortly before 2 a.m. March 6 in the westbound lane of I-86 between exits 63 and 62, according to New York State Police at Owego.
A preliminary investigation at the scene determined a 2020 Mitsubishi SUV operated by Kaden T. Watson, 21, of Warren Center, Pennsylvania, was traveling west on the highway when his vehicle went off the roadway and struck a guard rail.
The SUV became inoperable due to airbag deployment and was stopped partially in the right lane, state police said.
Watson had just exited his vehicle when the westbound tractor trailer struck the SUV, troopers said. The rig then went off the roadway, down an embankment and crashed into a tree.
The tractor trailer operator was located dead inside the cab of his truck. State police aren’t releasing his name at this time but say he was 70 years old and from Ontario.
Watson did not report any injuries, and also showed no signs of impairment, state police said.
The westbound lane of I-86 was closed for several hours after the crash. State police were assisted at the scene by the Nichols Volunteer Fire Department, Tioga Center Fire & EMS, Tioga County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Department of Transportation.
The crash remains under investigation by the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Collision Reconstruction Unit and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.