A 19-year-old Waterloo man was in fair condition this morning after his vehicle collided with a semi-tractor trailer on routes 5 and 20 in Aurelius Wednesday morning.

James A. Sherman, of East Elisa Street, sustained internal injuries and was airlifted to University Hospital in Syracuse shortly after the 8:37 a.m. accident, according to a news release by Cayuga County Sheriff Rob Outhouse.

Sherman was driving eastbound in a 1997 Chevrolet sedan when he veered into the westbound traffic lane, hitting a westbound semi-tractor trailer operated by Eric L. Kessler, 21, of Burns Road, Venice Center, Outhouse said.

When Sherman was interviewed at the hospital, he was unable to explain why his vehicle had gone into the other lane, Outhouse said.

Neither Kessler nor his mother, Teresa, who was a passenger in the semi-tractor trailer, were injured.

Both the tractor trailer and sedan sustained extensive damage. Sherman was wearing a seat belt, and his vehicle's airbag deployed, Outhouse said.

Sherman's condition has improved. He was in serious condition late Wednesday afternoon.

Outhouse said that Sherman has been cited for improper lane usage, a vehicle and traffic infraction.

Traffic was backed up for at least a quarter mile as police, fire departments and Rural/Metro Ambulance Service attended to the accident just west of Lime Kiln Road.