(updated May 19, 2012)
A two-car head-on collision around 2 p.m. Friday, May 18, on Route 20 in Skaneateles near the Hilltop restaurant resulted in one man dead and a second uninjured.
According to Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh, Adam Heck, 22, of Clay, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck registered to his employer, The Real Estate Sign Man, east on –on Route 20 towards Skaneateles when he crossed into the westbound lane. He collided head-on with a 2008 Freightliner Culligan Water Company truck being driven by Eric Maret, 34, of Liverpool.
Maret told police he saw the oncoming pickup weaving, but thought it was turning into the Cedar House. By the time Maret realized the pickup was driving into his lane, he could not get out of the way and the two collided head-on.
Heck was pronounced dead on the scene when first responders arrived, Walsh said. Maret was uninjured, but medically evacuated from the scene as a precaution.
Witnesses told police that Heck was apparently driving erratically and weaving across the center line. Maret told police the driver of the white pickup looked to be slumped over the wheel, Walsh said.
Sheriff’s deputies do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash and that Heck may have suffered a medical condition, said Det. Jon Seeber.
Walsh also said, “it doesn’t appear there was any high rate of speed from either driver.”
The accident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Friday, May 18. The impact of the collision caused extensive damage to both vehicles and scattered debris all over the roadway. Heck’s body was pinned inside the automobile and firefighters had to use the jaws of life to extricate him, Walsh said.
Both lanes of Route 20 were closed for multiple hours after the accident.
Rescue personnel from the Skaneateles Fire Department, Mottville Fire Department and SAVES Ambulance responded to the scene.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
A two-car head-on collision around 2 p.m. Friday, May 18, on Route 20 in Skaneateles resulted in one man dead and a second uninjured.
According to Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh, the driver of a white pickup truck traveling east from Auburn towards Skaneateles, was apparently driving erratically and weaving across the center line.
The second man, driving a blue Culligan water truck west toward Auburn, saw the oncoming pickup weaving, but thought it was maybe turning into the Cedar House. By the time the Culligan’s driver realized what was happening he could not get out of the way when the pickup crossed into his lane of traffic and the two collided head-on.
The Culligan’s driver told police the driver of the white pickup looked to be slumped over the wheel, Walsh said.
The driver of the white pickup truck was pronounced dead on the scene when first responders arrived, Walsh said. The man’s body was trapped inside the automobile and firefighters had to use the jaws of life to extricate him.
Police were not releasing the names of either driver until the families had been contacted.
Walsh also said “it doesn’t appear there was any high-rate of speed from either driver,” and there is currently no explanation as to why the driver was apparently slumped over the wheel prior to the crash. He said they will not know until a medical examination has been completed.
The accident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Friday, and as of 4 p.m. the road was still closed, as state and county police waited for the medical examiner to arrive.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
