A one-vehicle rollover accident with entrapment is reported at Sweetland and Transit roads. Stafford fire and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 9:19 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene. It will be landing in the roadway.
UPDATE 9:23 p.m.: Traffic Police are requested to shut down eastbound traffic and Clipnock at Sweetland roads.
UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia has landed on the north side of Sweetland Road.
UPDATE 9:34 p.m.: Two more helicopters were requested. The second one is responding. The third is cancelled because it is in Syracuse with a 45-minute ETA. A ground ambulance will be employed instead.
UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: Mercy medic #2 is inbound to Strong with two patients onboard. Mercy Flight #5 is airborne with a patient; we do not as yet know the destination. Mercy Flight #9 has landed in the roadway west of the accident scene.
UPDATE 10 p.m.: Two patients are being taken to Strong via two Mercy Flight helicopters. Another four are being tranported there by two ambulances.
UPDATE 10:06 p.m.: A firefighter at the scene told Howard "If they hadn't been seated and belted, it would've been a different story."
UPDATE 10:52 p.m.: The Stafford assignment is back in service.
UPDATE 11:45 p.m. (by Howard): The initial investigation, according to Sgt. Ron Meides, is that a Chevy Suburban was northbound on Transit Road and a Chrysler minivan pulled into the intersection. "The driver of the Suburban did try to stop, but was unable to," Meides said. There is a hill on Transit south of the intersection, but a crossing car at night should be able to see the headlights of an approaching vehicle, Meides said. It's unknown if the driver of the minivan simply didn't see the SUV, was distracted, or thought the SUV driver had a stop sign, too (there is no stop sign for Transit Road traffic at that intersection). It's believed the minivan stopped and then proceeded into the intersection. The driver will likely be cited for failure to yield right of way, Meides said. Three adult women and three children were in the minivan. All were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, one via Mercy Flight with a possible head injury. The passenger of the SUV -- the only person involved in the accident not wearing a seat belt -- suffered a possible head injury and was transported to Strong by another Mercy Flight unit. The driver of the SUV was not injured. None of the injuries are considered life threatening, Meides said.
FINAL UPDATE (by Billie): The names of those involved in the accident have been released. The driver of the Chevy Suburban was 27-year-old Jared Fleming of Genesee Street, Corfu. He is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or more. He was arraigned in Stafford Town Court and released. Additional charges are pending. His front seat passenger, Ashley Cornett, same age and location as Fleming, was not wearing a seat belt and sustained a head injury. Mercy Flight took her to Strong. A rear seat passenger, Katlyn Hahn, 26, of Alden, was not injured, nor was the driver. All occupants of the other car involved, a Chrysler minivan, were transported to Strong for injuries or evaluation. They were driver, 26-year-old Latoya Stanley, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, front seat passenger Markeda Starks, 23, of Rochester, who went via Mercy Flight; rear seat passengers Kristina Drake, 24, of Rochester, Nakai Williams, 6, Jah-Mel Roman, 3, and Antonio Roman, 5, all of Batavia. All were reported in stable condition. Charges are pending against the Chrysler also.
