According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, members…

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, members of the Criminal Investigative Unit determined the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, being operated by Darrel Gray Jr, age 52, from West Lyden New York, was traveling eastbound on State Route 294 near Gleasman Road in the Town of Ava.

While traveling east, Gray moved from his lane and entered the opposite lane of travel subsequently striking the front end of a 2019 Mack Truck, which was traveling west, that was being operated by Erik Rowland, age 46, from Woodgate New York.

As a result of the collision, Gray’s vehicle had come to rest along the southern shoulder of the roadway whereas the Mack Truck had struck a guardrail and had come to rest along the northern shoulder of the roadway. Darrel Gray and his passenger 17-year-old Eleanor (Nora) Gray were located and pronounced deceased at the scene. Rowland was airlifted to Upstate Medical Center for what appears to be non-life-threatening injuries.

At this time, the investigation is still ongoing, and additional information may be released at a later time.

Both Darrel and Eleanor (Nora) were part of the Adirondack Central School District. The district will have counselors available for students and staff.

Additionally, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the members of the Oneida County 911 Center for their assistance with coordinating with Mercy Flight who assisted with transporting Rowland to the hospital.

Original Press Release listed below.

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 of 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.