Powerline falls onto 17C causing injuries to motorcyclists

Press Release

On August 25, 2024, at approximately 12:57 p.m., New York State Police at Owego responded to Route 17C in Barton for an unusual incident.

An investigation revealed that a NYSEG utility pole broke that was attached to powerlines. Powerlines and a portion of the pole fell onto Route 17C. Three people were taken by ambulance to a Pennsylvania hospital.

Troopers on scene determined that a live wire fell onto the middle of the roadway when several motorcycles were coming down the roadway. The wire struck the passenger on the back of a motorcycle, the bike then overturned. The 62-year-old male driver and a 63-year-old female both of Athens, PA were transported by ambulance to Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital.

A 70-year-old male driver and a 79-year-old female passenger from Sayre, PA were on another motorcycle and in an attempt to avoid the bike in front of them, went off the roadway. The driver of that motorcycle was transported to Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital.