Submitted Photo Pictured is the gasoline tanker after it was pulled back up following an early morning accident Friday.

OBSERVER Staff Report

ELLINGTON — One person was killed Friday morning in an accident involving a passenger vehicle and a gasoline tanker.

At 1:30 a.m., New York State Police were patrolling the area of Route 83 in Ellington when they came upon a motor vehicle accident. Troopers saw a NOCO gas tanker on its side in the ditch on the east side of the road. On the west side of the road was a heavily damaged 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The sole occupant of the passenger vehicle was deceased and the driver of the tanker truck had gotten himself out of the vehicle.

According to the State Police, the driver of the tanker truck, identified as Steven D. Warner, said he was driving north on Route 83 when he saw a vehicle driving south with its high beam headlights on. The vehicle allegedly drifted across the center lane markings and into the path of the tanker truck. Warner said he took evasive action but was unable to avoid the collision.

The tanker truck going into the ditch caused fuel to leak from the tank. NOCO sent officials to the scene to help with cleanup. The Chautauqua County HazMat team and the state Department of Environmental Conservation are also at the scene.

New York State Police identified the driver of the Jeep as Ramon Spunaugle, 22, of Conewango Valley. Spunaugle’s body was taken to the Erie County Medical Center for an autopsy.

The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene.