The victim in Thursday’s fatal accident at Upstate Shredding in Owego has been identified as 48-year-old David Kotwas of Oswego. Koswas was an employee of Riccelli Enterprises oin Syracuse, and was making a delivery of scrap metal.
Kotwas parked next to a tractor trailer owned by McFarren Trucking of Hudson Falls, NY. The McFarren trailer was raised in the air dumping its load when it tipped over and landed on top of the Riccelli tractor, pinning Kotwas inside.
Employees were able to move the trailer off the tractor. Campville Fire Department and Owego Fire Department extricated Kotwas from the vehicle and the Campville Fire Department Emergency Squad along with Guthrie Air Medical crew transported Kotwas to Robert Packer Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The operator for McFarren Trucking was not injured in the incident.
The Tioga County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Campville Fire Department and Emergency Squad, Owego Fire Department, Guthrie Air and Bradford County Coroner’s Office.
