SOUTH NEW BERLIN – Police are investigating an afternoon crash on State Highway 8 which took the life of a 21-year old man.

According to Chenango County Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr., the young man was driving south on Rt. 8 when his car drifted into the northbound lane and into the path of an on-coming tractor trailer.

The incident took place shortly after 1:30 p.m., roughly two miles north of South New Berlin between the state road’s intersections with Brooker Road.

Cutting said the truck driver veered right, but was unable to avoid a collision with the smaller vehicle. The car struck the 18-wheeler on the front driver’s side, near the front wheel well. The truck careened off the side of the road, while the car ended up in the guard rails on the west side of the state highway.

The identity of the young man has not been released, pending notification of his family. UPDATE: Police have identified the deceased as Shane Romanowski of Norwich.

The driver of the tractor trailer was treated for minor injuries at the scene and released.

North- and south-bound traffic on Rt. 8 was diverted around the scene via Brooker Road.

The South New Berlin Fire Department and New Berlin Fire Department responded, as did the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New Berlin Police.