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Williamsville man killed in motorcycle crash in Indian Falls

By Howard B. Owens

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Investigators do not know why Michael N. Block, 50, of Williamsville, apparently lost control of his motorcycle at sometime before 7 p.m. last night in the area of 1027 Sliker Road but the resulting crash cost Block his life.

Block was driving a 2000 Yamaha going west on Sliker Road in Pembroke. He failed to negotiate a left-hand curve in the roadway. Block and his bike exited the road on the north shoulder and traveled through a hedgerow. Block struck several trees and lost his helmet. It was found wedged in a tree. Block came to rest in an open field.

Emergency responders were originally dispatched at 7:02 p.m. for a report of a male lying in a field unconscious. While deputies were in route dispatchers were updated by a first responder that the male had no pulse and was not breathing and that he had been involved in a motorcycle crash.

Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, Alabama fire, and Mercy EMS were dispatched.

When deputies arrived, CPR was in progress.

Block was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The crash is being investigated by Chief Deputy Brian Frieday, Sgt. Michael Lute, Investigator Howard Carlson, Deputy Mathew Clor, and Deputy Andrew Mullen. Accident reconstruction was completed by Sgt. James Diehl and Deputy Kyle Krzemien. Dickinson's Towing assisted at the scene.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

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Motorcyclist killed in accident in Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

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A motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene this evening an accident on Sliker Road, Pembroke.

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident and will release more information later.

The victim is described as a middle-aged male.

Pembroke fire and Indian Falls fire along with Mercy EMS responded to the scene.

Photo and information: Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Rollover accident, believed with minor injuries reported in Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

A one-vehicle rollover accident, with minor injuries, is reported on Ellicott Street Road at Roanoke Road, Pavilion.

The driver is out of the vehicle and walking around.

Pavilion units can respond non-emergency.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

ATV accident reported in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

An ATV accident is reported at 6880 Albion Road, the location of Lamb Farms, in Oakfield.

One patient, reportedly conscious. 

Oakfield fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Person has reportedly fallen off of Indian Falls

By Howard B. Owens

A person has reportedly fallen from Indian Falls off of Gilmore Road, Indian Falls.

The victim may have suffered a head injury.

Pembroke Fire, Indian Falls Fire, Emergency Management Services, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 6:29 p.m.: East Pembroke is on standby. It sounds like first responders will try to bring the female patient up along a trail. 

UPDATE 6:31 p.m.: The patient is "top side" and East Pembroke and Emergency Management have been put back in service. The injuries do not appear to be serious.

Car hits tree on Vallance Road, Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly hit a tree in the area of 8214 Vallance Road, Le Roy.

A subject reportedly has a head injury.

Le Roy Fire dispatched along with an ambulance from South Byron.

An ambulance from Monroe County is also being dispatched.

Big rig breaks tree branch in Le Roy, which smashes through car's windshield

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer traveling on North Road in Le Roy struck a tree branch, which broke off and crashed into the windshield of the vehicle behind it. There are children in the vehicle. The address is 8549 North Road.

Le Roy fire and ambulance are called to respond.

UPDATE 1:03 p.m.: Caledonia's ambulance is responding in lieu of Le Roy's. Traffic control is needed at the top of the hill.

Accident reported on eastbound Thruway

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 384.8. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: Bergen's ambulance is responding instead, as mutual aid for Le Roy's call.

UPDATE 12:19 p.m.: A second ambulance was also en route to the accident, but command just cancelled both. No injuries reported; no transport required.

UPDATE 12:27 p.m.: The Le Roy assignment is back in service.

Driver said he was singing to his daughter before sedan hit garbage truck

By Howard B. Owens

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A driver told investigators that he was singing to his 18-month-old daughter, and briefly looked at her at the back seat before his 2002 Acura sedan crossed the center line on Route 33 in Stafford at 9:23 a.m., last Friday, and struck an oncoming truck that was hauling garbage.

Alexander P. Ortiz, 22, of Canary Street, Rochester, was cited for driving without insurance, driving with an expired inspection, driving left of pavement markers, unlicensed operation, and driving on a suspended registration.

His baby daughter, Elle A. Ortiz, who was placed properly in a child safety seat in the backseat of the car, was uninjured but was transported to UMMC for evaluation.

The Acura clipped at 2019 Mack truck driving by R.W. Kellen II, 40, of North Road, Scottsville. The impact caused the driver-side front tire to be torn from the vehicle and Kellen lost control of the truck. It crossed the oncoming lane of traffic, the westbound lane, and left the roadway, flipping onto its side and dumping its load of garbage on the roadway and onto the field as it slid out of control.

A third vehicle, a 2010 Nissan sedan, driven by Alexander Boehlig, 17, struck some of the debris, causing damage to the front bumper and windshield.

Boehlig, from Bergen, was uninjured.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush.

Previously: No serious injuries reported, including to 18-month-old, in trash-truck vs. car accident in Stafford

Photos: Previously published photos.

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Three local tow companies come together to safely remove damaged cement truck from ditch

By Howard B. Owens

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You might say it takes a community to pull 80,000 pounds of cement truck and cement out of a ditch after it overturns.

That's what happened Wednesday when crews from Dan's Tire, Dickinson's Auto Service, and L&L Transmission, came together to figure out a way to recover a cement truck that had crashed on Route 98 in Batavia after blowing out a tire.

"They (the truck owner) requested that we go out there and remove their truck with the least damage possible without cutting up their truck because they want to keep the loss on it as minimal as possible," said Steve Grice, towing operations manager for Dan's Tire. "They were also concerned about the property owner and not any further damage to their property, which Tony Scalia is taking care of tomorrow, restoring their property."

The crew was Grice, T.J. DiLaura, Jesse Repass, and Matt Scott, from Dan's Tire, and Chad Dickinson, Bob Dickinson, Bobbie Dickinson, and Steve Dorf from Dickinson's Auto Service, Cameron Selapack from L&L Transmission.

Grice said between Dan's and Dickinson, he thinks they had the two largest wreckers in the county on the scene to deal with a truck and a full mix barrel weighing an estimated 80,000 pounds.

"I know it was a huge safety concern of the fire department and everybody," Grice said. "To our knowledge, everyone was happy that everything was done safely. The road was closed down for a short period of time. Once the truck was upright on the roadside, we had one lane opened up and within an hour that the road was open and clear for public traffic."

Dickinson's used their 45-ton "King Kong," with its 90,000-pound capacity, and Dan's it's "Big Black" with 50- to 100,000-pound capacity. King Kong took control of the mix barrel and crews were able to lift it back onto the frame of the truck and safely chain it to the truck. Big Black was able to hook onto the front of the truck and then the two trucks "walked" it back and forth onto the shoulder of the roadway.

After repairing airlines and refilling the truck's suspension to be able to handle the load, Big Black held the truck stable while King Kong moved to the front end and lifted it so the broken axle could be removed. After repositioning the truck, Dickinson's was able to safely tow it to the owner's property on East Main Street.

Grice said Wreck Master's was on speed dial to help with any weight calculations during the operation.

"It was a combined effort and combined brains came up with the proper way to safely remove it without causing further damage," Grice said. "I know someone brought up one point they were concerned for safety because of the weight we were dealing with.

"At no point at any time was anybody's safety in jeopardy. Everyone knew the weight they were dealing with; what had to be done; and the safest way to do it."

Photo: Steve Grice, Chad Dickinson, and Bob Dickinson.

Below, video provided by Steve Grice showing a little of the operation to get the truck out of the ditch. Photos below courtesy Steve Grice.

Previously: Concrete truck rollover reported on Alexander Road, Batavia

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Two-car accident with injuries reported in Stafford

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 5537 Clinton Street Road, at Prole Road. Stafford Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 8:07 a.m.: One person is still in a vehicle. A parent is out of a vehicle, holding a child. One vehicle is blocking traffic. A second ambulance is requested.

UPDATE 8:14 a.m.: Two tow trucks are called to the scene. Law enforcement is there.

UPDATE 8:17 a.m.: One person reports leg and back pain.

UPDATE 8:29 a.m.: Three people are being transported to UMMC.

UPDATE 8:32 a.m.: One of the medics is transporting two of the three patients -- a 22-year-old pregnant female driver; and a 2-year old boy who was appropriately seated and belted in, with no complaints of pain, but needs to be evaluated.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: The Stafford assignment is back in service.

Concrete truck rollover reported on Alexander Road, Batavia

By Billie Owens

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A concrete truck rolled on its side and is in a ditch on the east side of 9015 Alexander Road, Batavia. It is believed that a tire on the truck blew out. The location is between Rose Road and Pike Road.

Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: The sole occupant, the driver, is up and walking around. The accident is not blocking traffic.

UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: The truck was carrying 55,000 pounds of mixed concrete. After the truck blew a tire and the accident occurred, the mixing barrel holding the concrete became detached from the truck at the back end. This requires the tow service to cut the front housing of the barrel so it can be separated from the truck and the barrel and the truck can be hauled away separately.

UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is requested back to the accident scene to assist with traffic control to facilitate the tow.

UPDATE 5:04 p.m.: Route 98 (Alexander Road) is shut down between Pike and Rose roads until the damaged cement truck can be hauled away.

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Motorcycle accident reported on Creek Road

By Howard B. Owens

A motorcycle accident -- no word on injuries -- is reported in the area of 9349 Creek Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:35 p.m.: Town of Batavia hold equipment in quarters, per a chief on scene.

One vehicle rollover reported in Village of Oakfield

By Billie Owens

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A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported in the Village of Oakfield at 95 N. Main St.

Oakfield Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A first responder reports the car is on its roof, on fire. Minor injuries. The road will be shut down.

The location is between Cary Avenue and Bennett Avenue.

UPDATE 5:29 a.m.: The fire has been extinguished with a fire extinguisher. All occupants are out.

UPDATE 5:41 a.m.: Apparently two vehicles are involved since a dispatcher said "Ron and Newt's (towing) will be in route for both."

Photos by Alex Feig/WBTA.

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Rollover accident reported on Paul Road in Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported in the area of 5589 Paul Road, Bethany. 

The driver is reportedly out of the vehicle and walking around but may have suffered a head injury.

Bethany fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:59 a.m.: A first responder on scene reports a car is off the road in a field, overturned. Patient is conscious and alert, with minor abrasions on his head.

UPDATE 12:34 p.m.: The male driver is being transported to UMMC. He is complaining of a stabbing feeling of pain in his neck. His vehicle rolled several times. He did not lose consciousness and self-extricated from the accident.

Motorcycle reportedly hits dog in Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A motorcycle has reportedly hit a dog at the intersection of Main Road and Alleghany Road in Pembroke.

Minor injuries reported.

No word on the condition of the dog.

Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

State Police are on location.

Two-car accident with injuries reported at Citgo Gas Station on Park Road

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on the Citgo Gas Station property at 8204 Park Road. NYS Troopers are on scene. Mercy medics are called for reports of generalized pain. Town of Batavia Fire Department is also responding.

UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: One vehicle is blocking traffic.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: A first responder on scene says injuries are minor. There is a lot of debris in the roadway.

UPDATE 12:39 p.m.: The town assignment is back in service.

Car driver cited in collision with farm equipment in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

A driver of a 2007 Ford sedan on Maltby Road at 10:30 a.m. yesterday allegedly failed to yield to a piece of heavy farm equipment, causing a portion of the car to get crushed.

No injuries were reported in the accident.

Patricia A. Seguin, 71, of Maltby Road, Oakfield, was issued a citation.

The driver of the 2019 tractor was Kevin L. Witkop, 33, of Johnny Cake Lane, Albion. 

The equipment owner is listed as Helena Agri Enterprises of Medina.

Seguin was reportedly westbound on Maltby Road when her car encountered the tractor at the intersection of Fisher Road, where she tried to make a left turn.

Witkop tried avoiding the collision by hitting his brakes and maneuvering to the north. The sedan collided with the tractor.

Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush investigated the accident and said that witness statements corroborated the accounts of both drivers.

No serious injuries reported, including to 18-month-old, in trash-truck vs. car accident in Stafford

By Howard B. Owens

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A semi-truck hauling garbage and a passenger vehicle with a driver and 18-month-old child were involved in an accident on Route 33 near Ivison Road in Stafford at about 9:30 a.m.

The driver of the passenger vehicle was taken into custody on a warrant.

The 18-month-old was reportedly uninjured and transported to UMMC for evaluation. The child was reportedly properly strapped into a child safety seat.

We've been unable to obtain information about the accident from the Sheriff's Office.

(Initial report)

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