Plattsburgh, NY - September 29, 2010

On September 28, 2010, at 3:51 p.m., the New York State Police received a report of a commercial vehicle/bicycle accident which occurred at the intersection of State Route 3 and the Exit 37 on-ramp at Interstate 87.  

 

Witnesses reported a tractor trailer had collided with a bicyclist at the intersection and then left the scene. A witness to the accident followed the tractor trailer as it continued onto Interstate 87 northbound, and was able to provide State Police with the registration to the trailer.  

 

The bicyclist, Yee Hau Chiel, age 20, of Plattsburgh, New York, was transported to CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh where he was pronounced deceased by Dr. Arthur Fedorowicz at 4:12 p.m. Chiel was a student at SUNY Plattsburgh. Clinton County Coronor David F. Donah ordered an autopsy for Setpember 29, 2010.

 

The tractor trailer was subsequently located on O’Neil Road in the town of Chazy at a private residence. Investigation revealed the operator at the time of the accident was Brian J. Deno, age 46, of West Chazy, New York. Further investigation revealed that Deno was operating the 2008 Kenworth tractor trailer eastbound on Route 3. Chiel was riding a bicycle eastbound on the sidewalk. The tractor trailer continued slowly into the intersection and made a right turn onto the on-ramp to Interstate 87 while the bicyclist proceeded from the sidewalk onto the roadway and into the intersection. The bicyclist was struck by the trailer, causing Chiel to fall underneath the trailer. Deno was unaware that he had collided with the bicyclist.

 

The on-ramp was closed for several hours while the Troop “B” Collision Reconstruction Unit conducted the on-scene investigation. 

 

No charges have been filed at this time and the accident remains under investigation by the New York State Police and Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie. SUNY Plattsburgh Police assisted in the investigation.