According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, on August…

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, on August 27, 2026, at around 07:00 AM, Road Patrol Deputies were dispatched to State Route 294 near Gleasman Road in the Town of Ava for a reported serious motor vehicle accident.Due to the nature of the incident members of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigative Unit and Forensic Identification Unit responded to the scene.

A preliminary investigation showed that one of the vehicles, a Volkswagen SUV, was traveling in an easterly direction on State Route 294 when they moved from their lane and entered the opposite lane of travel. At this time, a single cab Mack tractor trailer, which was hauling a load of material, was traveling in a westerly direction and was struck by the Volkswagen SUV that was traveling easterly.The two individuals who were the occupants of the Volkswagen were pronounced deceased at the scene. The operator of the tractor trailer was airlifted to Syracuse SUNY Upstate Medical Center for further treatment by Mercy Flight for what appears to be non-life-threatening injuries. The accident is still under investigation and the names of the parties involved will not be released at this time.

State Route 294 will be closed for cleanup but will soon be reopened to the public.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Dept of Transportation Grower’s Collision and Towing, Shufelt’s Garage, Mercy Flight, Boonville Ambulance and Fire Department, West Lyden Ambulance and Fire Department, and Rockers Automotive Rescue Inc.