HASTINGS (AP) -- The northbound lanes of Interstate 81 north of Syracuse have reopened after being shut down for more than eight hours by a five-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a central New York teenager.
State Police Investigator Tom Quilter says 19-year-old Liberty Tanner of Pulaski was driving north when her car broke down in the center lane around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday between exits 31 and 32 in the Oswego County town of Hasting.
Police say Tanner was on the phone with 911 when her car was rear-ended by another vehicle, operated by 17-year-old Alex B. Mills of Altmar. The crash caused three other vehicles to collide in a chain-reaction crash.
Police say another driver, 17-year-old Michael R. Edinger of Parish, slowed down as he approached the scene and was rear ended by 20-year-old Emily Smith of Pulaski. A third driver, 28-year-old Stefanie Wooding of Fulton, entered the accident scene and collided with the rear of Smith’s vehicle.
Police say Tanner died in the crash. Three people in other vehicles suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to University Hospital at Upstate where they were treated and released.
I-81's northbound lanes were closed until 6:45 a.m. Thursday. Traffic was diverted to Route 11 while the lanes were shut down.
Investigation is continuing.
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