State police have identified the three St. Lawrence County residents who died in a three-car collision last night in the Town of Sandy Creek, Oswego County.

On Wednesday at 11:38 p.m., a 2015 Western Star milk tanker operated by 38 year-old Charles T. Howard III from Watertown was traveling northbound on I-81 when he swerved to avoid striking deer on the highway. Howard lost control of the tanker, which jackknifed, blocking both northbound lanes, police said.

A 2002 Mercury Sable, operated by Corey E. Moore, 50, from Canton was traveling north on I-81 when he was unable to avoid striking the tanker and passed under the trailer, coming to rest in a ditch on the eastside shoulder of the roadway. Moore, along with two passengers in the vehicle, Gregg P. Williams, 58, from DeKalb Junction and Roderick C. Cota, 63, from Norwood, were all pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.

Shortly thereafter, A 2011 Subaru, operated by Moon John Kim, 52, from Ellicott City, Md. was also traveling north on I-81 when he struck the same tanker and passed under the trailer and traveled over 150 feet off the west side shoulder of the roadway and coming to rest in the median. Kim was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.

Howard was not injured in the crash. The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating the incident. State police were assisted at the scene by members of the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office and Sandy Creek Fire Department.