Tractor Trailer Driver is Dead Following Chenango Bridge Crash

4:30 P.M. UPDATE:

Broome County emergency services officials say the residential evacuation affecting parts of the towns of Fenton and Chenango was lifted as of 4 p.m. Monday.

Interstate 88 remained closed while crews worked to clear the crash scene.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

Broome County authorities say the person behind the wheel during an early morning tractor trailer crash has died.

According to Broome County Sheriff David Harder, the driver of the tractor trailer has died after the compressed natural gas truck hit two deer in the road and rolled over at around 1 a.m.

Broome County Emergency Services officials have issued a mandatory evacuation of all residents within a quarter-mile of Interstate 88 at Exit 2 (Chenango Bridge) due to the crash of a tractor-trailer carrying hazardous materials around 1:00 a.m. this morning.

Residents on Ivan Lane, Dale Court, Niles Road, and East Niles Roads are being told to evacuate to the Hillcrest Fire Station on Avenue A in Hillcrest. Residents on Towpath Road should evacuate to the Port Crane Fire Station on Route 369 across from Chenango Valley State Park in Port Crane. The American Red Cross has also set up an evacuation shelter at the Chenango Bridge Fire Department on Kattelville Road.

I-88 is closed in both directions between exits 1 and 3. Those traveling I-88 Eastbound should continue on Interstate 81 to Exit 6 to NY Route 12 to Greene/NY-206 back on to I-88 eastbound via the exit 8 on-ramp. Those traveling I-88 Westbound, traffic is being detoured at exit 6 (Harpursville). Traffic should detour to NY Route 79 to NY Route 17 (Windsor) to I-86 into Binghamton.

Multiple reports tell us that there is no way to get into Chenango Bridge, Port Dick, or Hillcrest from the Brandywine because it's closed. Drivers will have to take Chenango Street.

NYSEG has responded to the incident and reports that they'll be turning off power within a quarter-mile radius of the crash this morning until further notice. All Chenango Valley and Chenango Forks schools are closed today, Monday, September 23.

The cleanup is anticipated to be finished by mid-day September 23.

[via Broome County Executive/Broome County Office of Emergency Services]