State Police in Jamestown report that a car driven by 30-year old Mathew Berry of Randolph was traveling the wrong way in the westbound lane of I-86 without headlights when he was truck by a Ram truck head on. The collision caused the truck to go into the right lane where it was struck by a Freightliner.

Berry was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, 57-year old Todd Town of Jamestown, was taken to UMPC Chautauqua where he died from his injuries. The passenger in the truck, 54-year old Sandra Town, is in serious condition at UPMC Hamot. The driver of the Freightliner had no injuries.

State Police said an investigation determined that Berry suffered from mental illness and had been reported missing earlier Saturday evening.

They added the investigation is ongoing.

Heather Capell

A Brunswick, Georgia woman has been found guilty for causing a fatal car crash on I-86 in the town of North Harmony in July 2021

51-year old Bradley Wakefield of New Albion, Cattaraugus County died in that crash.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said 33-year old Heather Capell was convicted of 2nd Degree Vehicular Manslaughter, Criminally Negligent Homicide, and Driving while Ability Impaired by Drugs.

The jury acquitted Capell on the more serious charge, 2nd Degree Manslaughter: Recklessly Causes Death. The decision Monday came after a two-week long trial.

Capell will be sentenced December 19. She faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday announced resurfacing projects totaling $75 million will be completed this year on approximately 428 lane miles of state highways across New York. Funding for these projects was accelerated into this construction season in order to repair widespread damage from deep frost over the winter.

The governor said the accelerated projects are in addition to more than $437 million in capital construction funds dedicated to paving an estimated 2,311 miles of state roads in the 2015-2016 State Fiscal Year.

Projects in Chautauqua County that will benefit from the paving include:

• Interstate 86 eastbound from the Pennsylvania state line in Mina to the village of Sherman exit,
• Route 76 from the northern village line in Sherman to County Route 9 (Wattsburgh Rd.) in Ripley.

According to a report from the Sheriff’s Office, a chain reaction accident took place after Ryan Houser of Erie was traveling east along I-86 when he came upon a white work truck stopped in the driving lane along the bridge. The driver of the car was unable to stop and rear-ended the truck, which then drove off from the scene.

As Houser’s vehicle sat in the driving lane awaiting for assistance to arrive, a third vehicle, driven by Sharon Hilyer of Clarendon, Pa., came to a complete stop behind Houser’s vehicle. At that time, a fourth vehicle, driven by Jeffrey Schaffhouser of Brighton Michigan, failed to stop in time and collided with Hilyer’s vehicle.  A fifth vehicle, driven by Kenneth Sorensen of Russell, Pa., was also unable to avoid accident scene and sideswiped one of the vehicles involved.

Hilyer was taken to WCA hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The older model white work truck was not able to be located. It is described as an older model, white work truck with a ladder rack on the right hand side. Anyone with information regarding the vehicle is asked to call the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.

In a media release from his office, Reed claims he pushed New York State and the Seneca Nation over the summer months to come to an agreement and begin re-construction of the portion of I-86 running through the Seneca Nation.  Near the end of summer,  the state allocated funds for the repairs. Short-term work will continue through October but due to the onset of winter, the major reconstruction will begin in the spring of 2013.

I-86 is the main east-west conduit through the Southern Tier and is a critical lifeline for the Western New York economy.

Assemblyman Andy Goodell and Senator Cathy Young join with Alfred F. Jones’ family members (from left to right) daughter Carolyn Murray, widow Judy Jones, son William Jones, and daughter Karyn Fahey to dedicate the Route 76 bridge over Interstate 86 in memory of Alfred F. Jones. (Photo by Lisa Vanstrom)

SHERMAN – Motorists driving on Interstate 86 will soon see new signs stating that the Route 76 bridge in Sherman is dedicated in memory of Alfred F. Jones, a tireless community advocate and public servant.

During a ceremony Monday afternoon, the Route 76 bridge crossing Interstate 86 in the Village of Sherman was dedicated as the “Alfred F. Jones Memorial Bridge.” State Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I – Olean) and State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell (R,C-Chautauqua) sponsored the legislation renaming the bridge.

Jones served as a Chautauqua County Legislator and was a strong advocate for the completion of a 20-mile stretch of Route 17, now designated as Interstate 86.