Thruway accident
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WHEC-TV
updated 20 minutes ago

A 49-year-old tractor trailer driver from Alabama is dead after his tractor trailer went off the road and exploded into flames on the Thruway in Wheatland. The Thruway has been down to one lane eastbound for hours.

Neighbors that live along Cedars Avenue in Wheatland were all awakened by loud explosions around six o'clock this morning.



"This is the second truck and the second truck fatality at that spot." Carl Vogt says he's seen accidents like this more than once living next to the thruway in Wheatland. "There was a loud crash sound and my wife said what was that? Then she looked out the back and said Carl there's a fire."

He says this stretch of road is dangerous. "It appears that perhaps the truck drivers fall asleep or are inattentive as they're coming up and go straight off the edge of the road."

Henrietta Fire Chief Jim Comstock said, "We found the tractor trailer that was indeed of the highway in the trees and it was well involved. We had fire from the cab all the way to the back of the trailer."

Vogt said, "The flames were like halfway to the top of the trees. So it must be like 50 feet in the air."

Chief Comstock says the driver went off the road at mile marker 371.9, drove along the tree line until it came to a stop and erupted in flames. By the time fire crews got there, they weren't able to save the driver. "Upon impact the tanks of the truck ruptured and were involved in fire. When we arrived on scene the diesel tanks were well involved in fire."

It's a tragedy that Vogt and his wife may see again. Vogt said, "Twice we've seen the helicopters come in within our view to pick up drivers."

State Police are not releasing the name of the victim in this accident until next of kin are notified. Police continue to investigate what may have caused this accident.

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And just last night I was talking to an OTR Crete driver that was filling in for a dedicated driver on vacation and he was saying how he dosen't know how he's going to stay awake to drive at night. Man this is just so sad, it's such a waste and easily prevented. YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE TRUCK NOT DISPATCH OR THE SHIPPER ONLY YOU HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON IF YOUR TIRED OR NOT!! Newbies need to remember this and some of the old timer's need to be reminded. If your tired and start wandering in your lane,can't remember the last mile or so, start missing shifts, or don't remember what that sign said you just passed IT"S TIME TO PULL OVER!!