(Verona, NY – Aug. 13, 2015) On Aug. 12 at approximately 10:23 p.m., State Police responded to a four vehicle collision westbound on I-90 between Exits 32 (Westmoreland-Rome) and 33 (Verona-Rome).
The driver of a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, Travis V. Thurston, 29, from Canastota veered onto the right shoulder, striking a disabled vehicle and tow truck, then continued back into the lane of traffic and struck a third vehicle.
Thurston sustained minor injuries. His passenger, Chad A. Hitchings, 31, from Oneida sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries. They were traveling with two dogs, one of which died on scene and the second one ran off.
The Kinney’s Towing driver, Theodore F. Presley, 34, from Oneida was uninjured.
The driver of the disabled vehicle, Carlton A. McRae, 33 from Newport News, Va. succumbed to his injuries at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Utica. The left rear passenger, Mark I. Murray, 34 of Syracuse sustained fatal injuries. McRae’s front seat passenger, from Syracuse is in stable condition at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center.
The driver from the remaining vehicle, David A. Kennedy, 47, of Cheektowaga sustained minor injuries and was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital.
The accident is still under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.