NEWSTEAD, N.Y. — A fatal Erie County Thruway crash early Friday killed a Rochester woman and left another Rochester resident hospitalized in serious condition after a tractor-trailer struck a disabled pickup truck parked on the shoulder of Interstate 90, according to New York State Police. This incident is part of the ongoing coverage of the case involving the woman killed in I-90 crash involving disabled pickup.
State Police identified the driver who died as Olive H. Wesley, 61, of Rochester. Her passenger, Eric A. Trone, 62, also of Rochester, remained hospitalized in serious condition after the crash, police said in an updated release issued Sept. 4.
What happened in the Erie County Thruway crash?
Troopers assigned to Troop T at SP Buffalo were called to the westbound New York State Thruway in the town of Newstead at about 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2026.
According to the preliminary State Police investigation, a 2018 Volvo tractor-trailer was traveling west on I-90 when it collided with a disabled 2012 Chevrolet pickup truck that was stopped on the right shoulder.
Wesley, who was driving the pickup, was pronounced dead at the scene. Trone was transported to Erie County Medical Center. The initial State Police release described his injuries as non-life-threatening, but the later update said he remained hospitalized in serious condition.
The tractor-trailer driver was identified as Amritpal Singh, 30, of Belleville, Ontario. Police said Singh was evaluated at the scene and reported no injuries.
Police said there were no signs of impairment
State Police said Singh was given standardized field sobriety tests at the scene. According to the agency, those tests showed no signs of impairment.
No criminal charges were announced in the State Police update. The agency has not said what caused the tractor-trailer to strike the disabled pickup on the shoulder.
“The investigation is continuing.”
New York State Police
Crash caused major morning traffic delays
The collision affected the Friday morning commute along the Thruway. State Police said the right lane was blocked for the emergency response and investigation while the left lane remained open.
Traffic backed up for several miles as investigators, emergency crews and other responders worked at the scene.
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Troop A and the Collision Reconstruction Unit also responded to the crash.
Key facts confirmed by State Police
- The crash happened at about 2:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, on westbound I-90 in Newstead.
- A westbound 2018 Volvo tractor-trailer struck a disabled 2012 Chevy pickup on the right shoulder.
- Olive H. Wesley, 61, of Rochester, died at the scene.
- Eric A. Trone, 62, of Rochester, remained hospitalized in serious condition.
- The tractor-trailer driver, Amritpal Singh, 30, of Belleville, Ontario, was not reported injured.
- Police said field sobriety testing showed no signs of impairment.
- The State Police investigation remains open.
Important questions remain unanswered
Although State Police have released the identities of those involved, several important details have not yet been made public.
Police have not said why the pickup became disabled, how long it had been stopped on the shoulder, or what led to the tractor-trailer striking it. Authorities also have not announced whether weather, visibility, speed, distraction, mechanical problems or other factors played any role.
Those questions matter, but they cannot be answered responsibly until investigators release additional findings. At this stage, any claim about the cause of the crash would be speculation.
Investigation remains active
State Police said investigators from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene. The agency has not provided a timetable for when additional findings may be released.
For now, the confirmed facts are limited to the police account: Wesley died after the disabled pickup was struck on the Thruway shoulder, Trone remained hospitalized in serious condition, and the tractor-trailer driver showed no signs of impairment during field sobriety testing.
What readers should know
This remains a developing investigation. The Utica Phoenix will update this report if New York State Police release new information about the cause of the collision, Trone’s condition or any enforcement action connected to the crash.
Drivers traveling through active crash scenes should reduce speed, remain alert and follow directions from police and emergency personnel. A major collision can create secondary hazards for investigators, first responders and motorists long after the initial impact.
Source: New York State Police, Troop T, Sept. 4, 2026 update.
