David Swingle was a "big loveable bear," his family members said Thursday afternoon, the day after he was killed when floodwaters caused a culvert to collapse on Interstate 88.
Swingle, 42, of Waverly, was driving a tractor-trailer eastbound on I-88 about 35 miles northeast of Binghamton about 6:20 a.m. Wednesday when the truck careened into a deep chasm created after a swollen creek washed away the highway.
Another trucker, coming westbound, also drove into the jagged hole in the highway. Police believe heavy rains could have limited the the drivers' views. The culvert that gave way was due to be inspected again this year. It was last rated "good" in an inspection in 2004.