Driver Ticketed Following Fiery Crash on I81

New York State Police say Troopers were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash involving a car and tractor trailer on I81 Northbound in the Town of Lafayette. According to reports, a minivan had rear-ended a tractor trailer on the highway and then caught fire. Also dispatched to the scene was Lafayette Fire and Ambulance, Tully Fire, with Apulia Fire assisting in closing I81 at Tully.

According to reports to X101 News, a member of the Homer Fire Department, who was also driving on I81, saw the tractor-trailer dragging the minivan after it collided. They were able to flag the tractor-trailer to stop and pull-over. State Police say an investigation into the crash determined the driver of the minivan, 28 year old Jacob E. Haegnbuch of Central Square, was traveling northbound when he then struck the 2024 Freightliner Tractor trailer driven by 43 year old Guybenson Louis Jean of Florida. State Police added after the collision, the minivan caught fire and spread to the trailer of the tractor.

Hagenbuch was able to get out of the minivan prior to the fire, State Police say. In a release by Tully Fire, Lafayette Firefighters were on scene upon their arrival working on extinguishing the flames. Hagenbuch was transported via Lafayette Ambulance to Upstate Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Louis Jean was uninjured from the crash; they were also able to separate the trailer from the cab to a safe distance.

I81 Northbound was closed for nearly 2 hours between Tully and Lafayette as a result of the crash and fire. State Police say Hagenbuch was cited for Following to Close.