Investigators: Poland man was allegedly impaired in tractor v. motorcycle crash

MADISON COUNTY- A man from Poland, NY was allegedly impaired as a tractor he was driving struck an oncoming motorcycle over the weekend, investigators say.

It happened during the early hours Saturday in the town of Lenox, Madison County. John Conklin, 40, is officially charged with vehicular manslaughter, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs and failing to keep right.

Police say Conklin was driving a tractor northbound on Lewis Point Road. This is when he crossed over into the southbound lane and struck an oncoming motorcycle, reportedly operated by Aaron Atkinson, of Canastota, NY.

The wreck ended up taking the life of Atkinson, police said. Conklin was arraigned and jailed on $50,000 bail.

The crash caused a temporary road closure.