BARKER, NEW YORK — A tractor-trailer struck a vehicle in an active work zone on southbound Interstate 81 in Broome County on August 19, setting off a chain reaction that injured four people, spilled fuel on the roadway, and sent two dogs running from the scene near Exit 21 at Castle Creek — with their exact descriptions still in question.
New York State Police responded at approximately 11:59 a.m. A preliminary investigation found the tractor-trailer, a 2025 Kenworth owned by Kurtex Logistics Inc. and driven by Servin Keshfiiev, 45, of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, struck a 2017 BMW X3 driven by David Michael Steria, 26, of Baldwinsville. The impact pushed the BMW into a 2015 Mazda CX5 driven by Kevin P. O’Brien, 72, of Whitney Point, who had a 56-year-old female passenger. The Mazda rolled and struck a 2026 Hyundai Elantra driven by Andrew C. Lee, 66, of Bethesda, Maryland.
One occupant from each vehicle was transported to UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City with non-life-threatening injuries. No work zone workers were injured and no work zone equipment was damaged. Keshfiiev was issued traffic citations.
Two dogs inside one of the vehicles ran from the scene following the crash and were last seen in the area of I-81 and Route 11. New York State Police described them as a German Shepherd and a poodle-type dog, while social media reports from people familiar with the animals describe them as a purebred standard Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog. It was not confirmed whether the dogs had been located by Wednesday evening. Motorists traveling in the area are asked to use caution if they spot loose animals near the highway and to avoid stopping suddenly in traffic.
DEC Spill Response was called to address a fuel spill from the tractor-trailer. I-81 south was briefly shut down before reopening within minutes.
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