BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

LOUISVILLE — National Transportation Safety Bureau investigators have concluded their initial investigation of a fatal accident on State Route 37 that claimed six lives and left eight others injured.

The entire investigation is expected to be completed in 12-24 months, officials say.

According to the NTSB initial report released today, Feb. 16, investigators determined the accident was the result of a 26-foot box truck crossing over the highway centerline, leading to a collision with the driver’s side of the bus.

As a result of the accident, six occupants of the bus were killed, two were seriously injured, six more had minor injuries and one was uninjured.

The driver of the truck, now known to be Harley N. Diaz-Baez, 25, of the Bronx, was also seriously injured in the accident.

Police say Christopher Valiro-Torres, 36, of Venezuela was the driver of the bus.

Other parties involved with the investigation included the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, New York State Police and New York Department of Transportation.

NTSB officials say all aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

According to NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson, investigators were on scene from Jan. 29 until Feb. 6.

“Investigators will continue to gather, collect and evaluate evidence in an investigation that will include survival factors, vehicle factors, human performance and the motor carrier involved,” Knudson said.

Officials say the accident occurred at 6:02 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29. The collision, between a 2013 medium sized bus with 15 occupants and a 2021 Freightliner box truck, was originally deemed due to poor visibility and snow and ice covered roads, according to police.

The six men who were killed were employees of LBFNY, LLC in Weedsport.

Officials with the company say they were on their way to a solar project in Madrid.

Dozens of first responders were called to the scene as there were mass casualties. Their efforts were recognized by Mayor Mike Zagrobelny of Waddington.

“As many of you are aware, there was a terrible accident on Rt. 37 in Louisville early this morning,” he said in an online statement. “Thank you to all of the first responders from around the county including Waddington Volunteer Rescue Squad and Waddington Volunteer Fire Department who responded, thank you to St. Lawrence County dispatch for coordination of efforts, and hospital workers. Please share thanks with the responders but also grant them the grace to deal with what they may have witnessed. Thank you again for being there at the worst of times.”

Troopers were assisted by St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s department, multiple fire and rescue teams; Louisville, Waddington, Norfolk, Madrid, Massena, and Seaway Valley.

The victims were reportedly transported to Massena Memorial, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, and Claxton Hepburn Medical Center.