Apalachin Highway Exit Closed By Spilled Grapes

An exit from Route 17 in Tioga County was out of service for hours after tons of grapes from a Finger Lakes vineyard spilled when a tractor-trailer overturned.

The crash happened shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday at Exit 66 in Apalachin. The off-ramp was closed for eastbound drivers until nearly noon.

Several large containers loaded with grapes spilled from a trailer as the rig left the highway and was heading toward Route 434.

State police say no other vehicles were involved in the crash and no injuries were reported.

The rig was operated by AgriAmerica of Silver Creek.

David Hamburg, a spokesman for the New York State Department of Transportation, said an estimated ten tons of grapes had to be cleared before the highway exit was reopened around midday.