CORTLANDVILLE, NEW YORK — Two tractor-trailers jackknifed on Interstate 81 south Tuesday morning in snowy conditions near mile marker 42.6, leading to a diesel spill response and a multi-hour closure between McGraw and Marathon before the roadway reopened early Tuesday afternoon.

New York State Police at Homer said troopers responded on December 23, 2025, at approximately 6:48 a.m., to I-81 south near mile marker 42.6 in the town of Virgil for a crash involving two tractor-trailers that both jackknifed.

^{Photo credit: NYSP}

A preliminary investigation indicated that the first tractor-trailer was traveling too fast for the snowy roadway conditions when it jackknifed. Troopers said a second tractor-trailer attempted to avoid the first truck, but also jackknifed, and the two tractor-trailers made contact.

State police identified the first driver as Salimov Olimjon, 23, of Brooklyn, who did not report any injuries. The second driver was identified as Flavio Pacheco, 50, of Fall River, Massachusetts, who was transported to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center to be checked out for a complaint of back pain. Another update said one of the drivers reported back pain and was taken to Cortland Guthrie to be evaluated.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation spill response team responded to the scene for remediation of diesel fuel that leaked. Officials said the leak was not causing any threat to the public.

As of 11:00 a.m., officials said I-81 south between McGraw and Marathon was closed to traffic. Police said one tractor-trailer had been removed from the scene, and the second truck was in the process of being removed. A later update said that as of 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, the roadway between McGraw and Marathon was back open, according to 511NY.

Additional traffic advisories said reports of the crash came in around 7:00 a.m. along I-81 south near Exit 50, and that both lanes of southbound traffic were closed between Exit 50 and Exit 39 in Marathon, with traffic detoured off the interstate and onto Route 11. Early reports said the severity of the crash and whether injuries were reported was unknown at that time and described the situation as developing.

The crash remains under investigation as authorities continue reviewing the circumstances that led to the jackknifed trucks and the roadway closure.

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