Delaware County Truck Rollover Kills Homer, N.Y. Man

At approximately 7:35 p.m. on Tuesday evening, January 29, 2019, Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies and area fire and EMS providers responded to a 911 report of a tractor trailer roll-over accident, with entrapment, on State Highway 10 in Town of Hamden, just north of the New York State Department of Transportation Facility, that resulted in the closure of that roadway for several hours.

Upon arrival, responding units determined that the tractor trailer had struck and severed a utility pole, bringing power lines down on the overturned truck. The driver of the truck was determined to be deceased.

Due to road conditions, St. Hwy. 10 was closed down by NYS Department of Transportation and fire department personnel during the investigation and clean-up of the accident. Traffic was re-routed to East River Road until the highway was re-opened early Wednesday morning.

NYSEG crews responded to the scene to terminate the electric service at the accident scene and remove the downed power lines to allow responders to safely approach and clean up the scene. NYSEG crews later restored power after the removal of the tractor trailer.

Investigation by Sheriff’s Deputies determined that the truck driver, identified as 77 year-old James L. Updyke, of Homer, NY, was traveling north on State Highway 10 when the truck and trailer failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, crossed the roadway and ran off the southbound shoulder where the truck struck a utility pole and tree and overturned.

Mr. Updyke was subsequently pronounced dead by Delaware County Deputy Medical Examiner James Cooros.

The cause of the accident remains pending completion of an autopsy.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by members of the Delhi and Walton Fire Departments and Emergency Squads, Cooperstown Medical Transport, Delaware County Emergency Services, NYC Department of Environmental Protection Police, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Police, New York State Police Commercial Vehicle Unit, Don Orall’s Garage and Prestige Towing.