The following is a press release from The New York State Police, Troop C in Sidney

On August 8, 2016, New York State Police at Homer arrested Jeremy D. Austin, 36, of Binghamton, NY for the felony of vehicular assault 2nd degree, the misdemeanors of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, reckless endangerment 2nd degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th degree. This arrest occurred after troopers responded to a report of an accident involving two tractor trailers on Interstate 81 southbound, near exit 9, in the Town of Marathon at about 6:10 a.m. this morning.

An investigation determined that Austin was driving while impaired by drugs as he drove a 2012 Freightliner tractor trailer on Interstate 81 northbound and then drifted off the roadway and drove through a large median. He continued into the southbound lane of Interstate 81 where he crashed into a tractor trailer that was being driven southbound in that lane. Both vehicles came to rest in the roadway blocking traffic.

The driver of the tractor trailer that he struck was transported to Wilson Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Austin was found to unlawfully possess about a gram of crystal methamphetamine. He is going to be arraigned in the Town of Marathon court at 4:00 p.m., and then remanded to the Cortland County jail in lieu of bail. His next court date is pending.

The south bound lane near exit 9 was shut down for approximately four hours while the traffic was detoured off exit 9. NYSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit responded to the scene. State Police were assisted at the scene by the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon Fire Department, and NY Department of Transportation.

Jeremy D. Austin (Credit: NYS Police, Troop C)
Jeremy D. Austin (Credit: NYS Police, Troop C)
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