A 24-year-old Dryden man died Thursday evening after his pickup truck drifted off Hurd Road, struck a tree, and caught fire with him trapped inside. The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office identified the driver as Chase Nash of Dryden, saying he sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
The crash happened near the 100 block of Hurd Road just before 6 p.m. Thursday, according to WENY News. Responders arrived at approximately 5:50 p.m. to find the vehicle in the 100 block of Hurd Road, as reported by ithacajournal.com.
Nash was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado pickup when it hit the tree, according to a report from ithacavoice.org. He was the truck’s only occupant and became trapped inside the vehicle by the tree, the outlet reported.
Vehicle Fully Engulfed Before Rescuers Could Reach Him
By the time emergency crews arrived, the vehicle had become fully engulfed in flames, per the same ithacajournal.com account. Responders located Nash, the vehicle’s sole occupant, and found he had sustained fatal injuries.
Dryden Fire Department and Dryden Ambulance were the first on scene, arriving just before 6 p.m. Thursday, according to 14850.com. Tompkins County sheriff’s deputies, Dryden Ambulance, and multiple fire agencies all responded to the crash, the article notes.
No Other Vehicles Involved, Preliminary Findings Show
A preliminary investigation indicated that the pickup drifted off the roadway before it struck the tree, and that no other vehicles were involved in the crash, the Ithaca Journal’s report states. The evidence provided does not establish what caused the truck to leave the roadway, and the investigation remains in its early stages.
