The investigation into the fatal tractor-trailer crash into a restaurant on The Commons in Ithaca continues. On Friday, the driver of a 14-ton car carrier failed to take a gradual turn onto Seneca Street, and when he tried to avoid The Commons due to construction, he tried to turn north up Aurora Street, skimming a concrete bollard and driving into Simeon’s restaurant on East State Street. The crash injured seven people and killed 27-year-old Amanda Bush, a bartender at Simeon’s. The driver of the truck has been identified as 37-year-old Viacheslav Grychanyi of Spokane, Washington. He has been ticketed with two traffic violations: driving an over-length vehicle and having an inadequate braking system. He is cooperating with police through the investigation. Some witnesses have estimated that the truck was traveling anywhere from 40 to 50 miles per hour at the time of impact, and the collision with the building caused damage to all four stories of the building, which houses apartments in the three stories above the restaurant. At this time, city officials say some hope remains that the building can be saved. City engineers and a private engineering office have been called in to evaluate the damage. The 100 block of North Aurora Street between The Commons and Seneca Street remains closed to vehicles.
