One killed, three injured in five-vehicle crash near Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — One person was killed and three others injured in a five-vehicle crash that happened at approximately 4:40 p.m. Tuesday on Route 11 north of the village.

Investigator Michael J. Marvin with the state police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations said it appeared that a southbound vehicle operated by Kyle J. Simard, 23, Starbuck Avenue, Watertown, crossed into the opposite lane of traffic for unknown reasons and struck a tractor-trailer operated by Terry J. Mouthorp, Madrid, causing a chain reaction that involved three additional vehicles.

After the first collision, the tractor-trailer went into the southbound lane and collided with a vehicle operated by Jae M. Molner, 14197 State Route 11, Adams Center, killing him on impact. Continuing southbound, Mr. Simard’s vehicle collided with a northbound vehicle operated by Phillip Hughes, Antwerp. A fourth vehicle operated by William Carr, Herman, avoided the pileup but hit the guide rails.

Mr. Simard was charged with failing to keep right and was released on an appearance ticket to be arraigned at the Town of Philadelphia Court at a later date. Police said that driver inattention by Mr. Simard was a contributing factor in the accident.

Three of the operators were taken to hospitals in Gouverneur and Watertown for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, police reported. A fourth person was examined at the scene but was not taken to a hospital. Each vehicle had one occupant.