We’ve learned that one of the victims killed in last week’s fatal tractor trailer crash in Cortland County was pregnant. According to her obituary, 21-year-old Lena Beckwith was pregnant at the time of Wednesday’s crash on Route 13. Beckwith and her fiance, Carino Van Orden, were passengers in a minivan that was hit by an oncoming trailer that had unhitched from its cab.
Another adult and four children also died. 26-year-old Teresa Bush, and her two daughters, 4-year-old Alexis Bush and 5-year-old Jasmine Bush, as well as 7-year-old Alyssa Mead and 4-year-old Tyler Mead. Alyssa and Tyler’s father, Shawn Mead, was injured in the crash and has since been released from the hospital. The Cortland County Sheriff’s Office said there was a mechanical failure on the wheel locking mechanism of the tractor, causing the trailer to disconnect. So far, no tickets have been issued in the crash.
