Josias Perez, 26, Remembered in Caruthers After Late-Night I-90 Collision in LeRoy, New York

 Josias Perez, 26, of Caruthers, California, is being remembered after a late-night Interstate 90 collision in LeRoy, New York, left him dead and another driver hospitalized. New York State Police said the three-vehicle event occurred shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026. The circumstances have drawn attention because investigators determined that Perez’s pickup was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of the New York State Thruway.

According to preliminary findings from state police, Perez was driving a pickup when it entered the eastbound side of I-90 and collided with an SUV. A tractor-trailer was also involved. Perez was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 44-year-old SUV driver from Canandaigua was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with internal injuries. The two people inside the tractor-trailer were not injured, according to authorities.

For Perez’s family and friends in Caruthers, the news carries a deeply personal weight. Caruthers is a small community in Fresno County, California, and seeing a young resident die thousands of miles from home can be especially difficult for those who knew him. At 26, Perez was still at an age when many people are building careers, strengthening friendships, supporting relatives, and imagining what the coming years might bring. His sudden passing has now changed those expectations for the people closest to him.

The highway scene also created a major disruption for travelers. Eastbound lanes of the Thruway were temporarily closed while emergency crews, police officers, and investigators worked at the location. Specialized traffic investigators were called to examine the circumstances and document the roadway, vehicles, and evidence needed to understand how the pickup came to be traveling against the normal direction of traffic. The roadway later reopened, allowing normal travel to resume.

State police have not publicly established why Perez was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes. The investigation remains active, and authorities may examine several factors before reaching a final determination. These can include the vehicle’s condition, roadway access, visibility, driver circumstances, and other evidence collected at the scene. Until investigators complete that work, details beyond the preliminary findings should be treated carefully rather than presented as established fact.

The death of a young person often reaches far beyond the immediate circumstances. For Perez’s loved ones, memories of his personality, relationships, everyday conversations, and time spent together will carry greater meaning in the days ahead. Friends and relatives in California may also face the difficult reality of arranging final services while being separated from the New York community where the collision occurred. Support from family and friends can provide comfort as they navigate an emotionally difficult period.

Josias Perez will be remembered not simply for the highway event that ended his life, but as a 26-year-old from Caruthers whose family and community now have memories to hold close. As authorities continue examining what happened on I-90, those who knew Perez can keep their focus on his life and the relationships that mattered most. His family deserves compassion and privacy while they grieve, and the hope is that the coming days bring clarity, support, and peace to everyone affected. In time, stories, photographs, and familiar memories may help preserve the person he was beyond this heartbreaking night. His memory will remain part of the community he called home for many years to come.