NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Vincent T. Lightcap
Troop D Commander
On September 6, 2023, at 3:40 p.m., State Police responded to a reported crash on Interstate 81 northbound near mile marker 69.9 in the town of Tully.
A 2018 Ram Pickup truck, operated by Oleg Stepaniuk, age 49 from North Syracuse, NY was traveling northbound on I-81 pulling a trailer when he exited the west shoulder of the roadway and struck a metal guide rail. The truck then continued north and struck an earth embankment before coming to a complete stop.
Stepaniuk was found unconscious and was transported by Tully Ambulance to Upstate University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
An autopsy is scheduled to determine an official cause of death. It appears the driver may have suffered a medical event prior to the crash.
The investigation is continuing.