VETERAN -State route 13 was closed down for several hours on Thursday after a multi car accident that resulted in the death of one person.
According to New York State Police at approximately 8:20 a.m., police, fire and EMS responded to a three-vehicle accident with injuries on State Route 13 in the town of Veteran.
A preliminary investigation revealed a 2016 Ford Fusion operated by 41 year old Juria S. Vaness of Ithaca was traveling northbound on State Route 13 in the left lane, approaching a 2019 Chevy Silverado pulling an open trailer with lawn equipment operated by a 25-year-old male of Pine Valley, NY, which was also northbound on State Route 13 in the right lane.
A third vehicle, a 2018 Freightliner operated by 33 year old Jeremy Sobles of Skaneateles with an open trailer hauling bagged concrete, was traveling southbound on State Route 13 in the single southbound lane.
The investigation revealed that the Chevy began to merge left due to the right lane ending. The Ford then sped up in an attempt to get around the Chevy, making contact with the rear of the Chevy and trailer, causing it to lose control and travel into the southbound lane. The Freightliner then struck the Chevy.
The 25-year-old male operator and sole occupant of the Chevy was pronounced deceased on the scene. Vaness was transported to Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre by life flight and is in stable condition. Sobles was checked over by EMS on the scene and released.
State Police say the investigation is ongoing.