Motorcyclist Critically Injured After Attempting to Pass Between Two Tractor-Trailers on I-81

On July 26, 2025, Austin E. Leonard, age 28, of LaFayette, NY, has succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

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July 26, 2025

LAFAYETTE, NY — A high-risk maneuver on a busy stretch of Interstate 81 has left a man in critical condition and sparked an investigation by New York State Police.

The crash occurred around 7:38 a.m. Saturday on I-81 northbound, when a motorcycle collided with a guide rail after attempting to pass between two tractor-trailers occupying both lanes of traffic.

According to investigators, 42-year-old Sean M. Ayers of Dundee, NY, was driving a 2001 Peterbilt tractor-trailer in the right lane when one of his tires suddenly blew out. Ayers began to slow down and search for a safe area to pull off the highway.

Meanwhile, 66-year-old Barbara L. Armstrong of Creston, Iowa, was operating a 2024 Peterbilt in the left lane and overtaking Ayers’ vehicle at the time of the incident.

As the two massive rigs occupied both lanes of the highway, 28-year-old Austin E. Leonard of LaFayette, NY, approached from behind on a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle. In a split-second decision, Leonard attempted to squeeze between the two trucks in a dangerous attempt to pass.

After clearing the trucks, Leonard lost control of the motorcycle, veered toward the west shoulder, struck the guide rail, and was ejected from the bike. He was rushed to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where he remains in critical condition.

The crash remains under active investigation by New York State Police. No other injuries have been reported, and authorities say more details will be released as they become available.