On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at approximately 1:52 a.m., State Police in Herkimer responded to a two-car serious personal injury motor vehicle accident on State Route 8 in the Town of Russia, Herkimer County.
Preliminary investigation reveals that Cody S. Johnson, 22 of Plumb Road in Poland, was operating a 2003 GMC pickup southbound on Route 8 when he crossed into the northbound lane striking a 2008 Chevrolet pickup truck head-on. The operator of the pickup truck, 22-year-old Austin D. Dexter from Cold Brook.
Johnson’s vehicle continued off the west shoulder of the roadway where it became engulfed in fire.
Johnson sustained serious burns to his legs, arms and lower back. Dexter sustained fractures and a laceration to his spleen and liver; both operators were airlifted to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse and were listed in critical but stable condition.
The Troop D Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and is assisting in the investigation.