Tractor Trailers Plow Into Cortland County Sheriff Patrol Car

Cortland County Sheriff’s officials say a spectacular, chain reaction crash January 10 on Interstate 81 between exits 11 and 12 in Cortlandville, surprisingly, resulted in no serious injuries.

Officials say at about 9 a.m. a Deputy was on the scene of a crash where a tractor trailer driven by Harold Butcher of Mineola, Texas had jackknifed, blocking the northbound passing lane. 

While the officer was speaking with Butcher in front of the patrol car, two more tractor trailers approached the scene with a truck driven by Roger Vallance of Carthage, New York trying to pass a rig driven by John Narciso Penafiel Barzallo of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

When Vallance tried to move back into the driving lane as he noticed the first accident, his semi hit Barzallo’s truck. 

Officials say both of those tractor trailers became hooked together side-by-side and continued traveling north.

The deputy realized the trucks were not going to be able to stop. He yelled to Butcher and the two men attempted to run out of the way.

One of the trucks hit the rear of the patrol car, pushing it 50 feet into the passing lane guide rail. 

Butcher was hit in the back of the leg by the front of the squad car as it was hit by the tractor trailer.

Butcher was treated at the scene.

Vallance was ticketed for speeding, failure to take due care for emergency vehicles, moving from a lane unsafely, interfering with safe operation, speed under specialhazards and uninspected motor vehicle.