Broome County Sheriff’s Office assisted with a truck fire in the early morning Friday that closed Interstate 81 north. At approximately 4:47 AM, Officers from the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle fire on Interstate 81 north, near the 41 Mile Marker, in the Town of Marathon. The vehicle, a 2014 Volvo Tractor Trailer, owned by Pino Recycling Inc. from Bronx New York, was traveling north hauling construction debris when it ignited during transport. Interstate 81 Northbound from Exit 8 (Whitney Point) to Exit 10 (McGraw) was closed for approximately 45 minutes due to the fire and poor visibility from the smoke. The truck and trailer were both moved to a safe location in a median turn around on I81 and I81 was reopened. The operator, 50 year-old Hector Hernandez of Allentown PA, was found to be operating the tractor trailer with suspended registrations on both. The Marathon and Killawog Fire Departments, Broome County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Department of Transportation, CNY Towing and The New York State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit assisted at the scene. Mr. Hernandez was issued citations for the suspended registrations along with other traffic violations for equipment violations and no log book. He is scheduled to appear in the Marathon Court at a later date.
