The investigation continues into a deadly wrong-way crash between a car and a tractor trailer that closed a section of I-787 for several hours on Thursday. Solomon Syed spoke with State Police for more details.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

ALBANY COUNTY, N.Y. -- The fiery crash that closed multiple lanes on I-787 finally cleared Thursday afternoon, giving way to details about just what led up to the deadly head-on-collision.

"At approximately 5:16 this morning, our communications section began receiving several 911 calls about a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on southbound 787," said Lt. George Port of the State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

In all, there were about 80 911 calls made. The vehicle was a 1999 Toyota Corolla driven by 62-year-old Albany resident Peter Schissler, who was pronounced dead at the scene from chest trauma. State Police believe he entered the highway from the Southern Boulevard on-ramp located near his home by Exit 2.

But investigators are now trying to determine how Schissler could have driven almost six miles in the wrong direction before crashing into a tractor trailer by Exit 5.

"There were some medical conditions noted, which I cannot get into because of privacy concerns," said Port. "But it would appear that they could have contributed to some disorientation on his part."

That determination backed up by discovering Schissler was on his way to a routine doctor's appointment at the time of the crash.

"From the autopsy, we believe he had some chronic medical conditions," said Port. "But we believe he may have also developed a condition that he was unaware of."

One that may have brought him face-to-face with a truck owned by the J.B. Hunt Corporation, carrying about 20 tons of paper. The truck quickly burst into flames at impact, evoking memories of the deadly crash in July 2007 that killed two teens driving under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, again going the wrong way on I-787.

"We're going to ask the DOT to take a look at those signage issues to determine if there's something that can be done about people driving the wrong way," said Port.

Authorities have already ruled out drugs and alcohol in this case. The driver of the tractor trailer, Talikai Ayuba, 46, of Albany, was treated for minor injuries at Albany Medical Center.

The investigation is ongoing.