Two-Vehicle Crash on I81 Sends One Person to Upstate

Just before 8 in the morning on Monday, December 30th, emergency personnel were dispatched to I81 South in the area of the 49 mile-marker, just south of the Exit 50 (Old Exit 10) in Polkville.

First arriving at the scene were New York State Troopers, who confirmed a two-vehicle crash with one vehicle in the median of the highway. The vehicle in the median was a Toyota sedan that was being driven by 54 year old Kenneth G. Thompson of McDonough, NY, who was unconscious and still inside the vehicle.

Troopers utilized an emergency car escape tool, which State Police told X101 News is equipped in each vehicle. The Trooper used the device to smash the window and pulled Thompson out of the window of the car. Thompson was breathing on scene, but was still unconscious. Both Cortlandville Fire and TLC Ambulance arrived at the scene shortly after the driver was pulled from the vehicle.

Originally, a helicopter was requested to transport Thompson, but was canceled. He was then transported to Upstate University Hospital via TLC Ambulance. State Police say Thompson is awake and conscious at Upstate and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. 

A preliminary investigation into the cause of the crash found Thompson was driving in the right lane when he struck a Honda SUV being driven by Darrell W. Batchelor of Grand Junction, Colorado. After striking the Honda, Thompson continued then into the median where his vehicle then came to a stop.

Both Batchelor and a passenger in the Honda, Eddy H. Larson, were evaluated on scene by paramedics and did not get transported to hospital. 

The investigation into the cause of the crash continues, State Police say.