Four motorists were killed in New York last night when their vehicles crashed into a milk tanker truck that jackknifed while trying to avoid hitting deer.
Jackknifed Truck Leads To Fatal Three Vehicle Crash
The crash happened just before midnight on I-81 in Oswego County. According to New York State Police, 38 year old truck driver Charles T. Howard III was traveling north on I-81 when he swerved to avoid several deer in the roadway. Howard lost control of the tanker and it jackknifed and came to a stop blocking both of the northbound lanes of the interstate.
Police say the two passenger vehicles behind the semi were unable to avoid the disabled tanker truck and crashed. Both vehicles went under the tanker during the crash.
Three people in a Mercury Sable lost their lives in the crash. One person in a Subaru was also killed. All of the crash victims died at the scene.
Howard was not hurt in the crash.
The crash shut down I-81 for seven hours.
Crash Remains Under Investigation
New York State Police say the weather conditions were clear and the roadway wasn’t wet at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation.