Law enforcement and New York State Department of Transportation officials say huge pile up and traffic jam September 5 on Route 17 East at the Front Street, Binghamton exit can be attributed to vehicles following too closely, rubber-necking and speeding.

DOT Spokesman Dave Hamburg says in all, seven vehicle were involved.

The whole thing started shortly before 9 a.m. with two cars colliding just before exit 72. Four more cars and a motorcycle were then involved, resulting in a big backup on the highway and causing headaches for emergency responders trying to get to the scene through heavy traffic.

Hamburg says the wreckage was cleared by about quarter of ten, but it took much longer to get the traffic flow back up to the normal pace.

Officials remind motorists to give themselves plenty of time to get where they need to be, especially if their travels take them through construction zones, leave lots of space between vehicles and take it slow through the work zones.

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