It was just past 10:45 p.m. last Friday when a quiet rural road in the town of Preble, New York shattered into tragedy. A two-vehicle collision at the intersection of New York State Route 281 and Preble Road claimed the life of local resident Wallace Grevelding, when the SUV he was driving failed to stop at a posted stop sign and was struck by a pickup truck.
Grevelding’s SUV, a Ford model, rolled into the intersection, the sheriff’s office said, and was met by the oncoming Ford pickup truck that had been traveling along Route 281. The impact was significant; both vehicles suffered extensive damage, and emergency crews were dispatched from multiple departments including the Preble, Tully and Homer Fire Departments, alongside TLC Emergency Medical Services and the Cortland County Coroner’s Office.
Despite the swift arrival of first-responders, including a helicopter briefly dispatched before being cancelled, Grevelding was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. The pickup truck’s driver was transported to Upstate Medical Center for treatment; however, the sheriff’s office has not released details on that driver’s current condition.
In the hours following the crash, Route 281 was closed for several hours as investigators, cleanup crews and the New York State Department of Transportation worked to secure the scene. The sheriff’s office stressed that the investigation into the exact cause remains ongoing, with questions around visibility, road conditions, possible driver distraction or impairment yet to be ruled in or out.
For the community of Preble, the loss hits hard. Wallace Grevelding was remembered as a steady, kind presence, someone neighbors counted on and friends looked up to. His sudden departure has left many in the small town wrestling with shock and grief. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized publicly, but loved ones are gathering, and the memorial plans will be shared in the coming days. (Your original note mentioned “expected to be shared in the coming days.”)
If you witnessed the crash, or have any information that could help the investigators, please reach out to Sergeant Brendan L’Hommedieu of the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office at (607) 758-5540.
In the midst of this sorrow, the Preble community is coming together—friends, neighbors, firefighters and others—remembering Wallace, supporting his family, and asking how such a moment on a quiet October night could change so many lives so quickly.