PHIL HOLMES/Sun-Gazette

SALLADASBURG – A New York State truck driver was killed Tuesday night when his water tanker truck crashed head-on into an embankment at Route 287 and Dam Run Road, according to the Lycoming County Coroner’s Office.

Gary Perfetto, 63, of West Babylon, a community on Long Island, was pronounced dead at the scene of blunt force injuries that he suffered in the 8:10 p.m crash, Jerold Ross, the county’s chief deputy coroner said Wednesday afternoon.

The accident occurred in Mifflin Township, about three miles north of here, and was investigated by the Tiadaghton Valley Regional police and state police.

Hauling an estimated 6,000 gallons of brine, Perfetto was traveling east on Dam Run Road and failed to stop for a stop sign at Route 287, where the road ends, Ross said.

It was believed that Perfetto was going to turn south onto Route 287 when he lost control of the rig.

The issue of possible mechanical brake failure was being investigated, officials said.

It was believed Perfetto died on the truck’s impact with the embankment, officials added.

It took volunteer firefighters nearly an hour to remove the driver’s body from the wreckage, Ross said.

While the tank remained intact, the collision punctured a hole in it, allowing all the liquid to drain into Larrys Creek, Ross said.

The rig’s tanker, cab and frame with motor were hauled away on separate wreckers. The crash closed the two-lane state highway until 4:15 a m. Wednesday.