Stories from

A motor-vehicle accident occurred in front of Denny's restaurant on West Main Street in the city. There's one minir injury due to air bag deployment. Law enforcement is on scene for traffic control. Mercy medics and city fire are also there. Two flat-bed tow trucks are needed.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by Doug Yeomans.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by Joe Bradt.

A motorcycle accident with injuries is reported at 852 Bloomingdale Road. A first responder reports the rider is "up into the brush" of the back parking lot of the Arrowhawk Smoke Shop. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are called to the scene.

UPDATE 10:23 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia is called to the scene. A clerk at the store reports seeing the rider in the wooded area behind the store. A responder located the rider underneath some brush.

UPDATE 11:08 p.m.: Mercy Flight is in the air.

A working house fire is reported at 6908 East Bethany - Le Roy Road. Le Roy and Pavilion fire departments are responding. Stafford is asked to stand by in their hall. Town of Batavia fire is called to shut down traffic at Route 63 and East Bethany - Le Roy Road.

UPDATE 8:08 p.m.: Stafford is called to the scene.

UPDATE 8:18 p.m.: After calling for assistance from York, Caledonia and Bergen, with a standby from Mumford, command tells responders on the road to back it down. The fire appears to be contained to a corner of the structure. They have accessed the attic and are ventilating it.

UPDATE 8:23 p.m.: There is residual heat but no active fire. York and Caledonia are told to go back in service. Bergen can continue to the scene non-emergency.

UPDATE 9 p.m.: Le Roy and Pavilion are back in service along with other responders. The fire is out. The roads are reopened.

UPDATE (by Howard): A quick response by volunteer firefighters helped contain the fire to the southeast corner of the house. The cause is undetermined at this time. A resident was fighting the fire with a garden hose when Le Roy firefighters arrived on scene. There was some smoke extension into the attic. The property is owned by Peter Paliani.

A vehicle has struck a guard rail and injuries are reported at 6104 Route 63, north of Transit Road. The vehicle is blocking the roadway. Bethany Fire Department and Ambulance Service are responding. The road is being shut down. After this accident, a tractor-trailer reportedly hit something, like a pole, in the area. Town of Batavia Fire Police are asked to close southbound Route 63 at East Road. Pavilion Fire Police are asked to shut down northbound Route 63 traffic at Texaco Town.

UPDATE 9:02 p.m.: Responders are back in service. Roads reopened. No word on status of victims(s).

A truck fire is reported on the westbound I-490 near mile marker 2.8. Le Roy Fire Department is responding. The occupants are out of the vehicle.

UPDATE 3:08 p.m.: The scene is close to a small body of water near that mile marker, which is actually in Bergen's fire district. Le Roy is put back in service and Bergen has command. A witness indicated the fire was in the back of a pickup and that the occupants "were seen running from the scene." A Sheriff's deputy is also responding.

UPDATE 3:18 p.m.: Bergen command reports the truck has a blown transmission and that the fire department is not needed. The assignment is back in service.

A medical problem prompted a call for Mercy Flight at the annual Alexander Steam Show and it has just landed in a field across from the main entrance on Gillette Road.

There were three nearly simultaneous calls for medics at the show, for abdominal pain, a diabetic issue and some other medical issue -- as opposed to an accident or disturbance.

One patient was a sign-off, another was transported by Alexander ambulance to UMMC, and the remaining patient is being readied for flight.

Alexander fire and Mercy medics also responded to the scene.

UPDATE 12:22 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and destined for Buffalo General Hospital.

Two females and one male are reportedly brawling in front of 121 Liberty St. Police are now on scene.

UPDATE 2:48 p.m.: The parties involved say it was only a verbal altercation.

UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: The police say they are being uncooperative.

A car vs. motocycle accident is reported on the westbound Thruway by mile marker 386.4. The motorcycle rider and his passenger are injured. Both are conscious and alert. One has a back injury and the other is reportedly bleeding from the mouth. Two Mercy rigs are going to the scene along with Town of Batavia Fire Department. The location is between the CSX railroad crossing and Route 33.

UPDATE 3:11 p.m.: Mercy medics are transporting two patients to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 3:14 p.m.: State Police have released Town of Batavia responders from the scene.

A tractor-trailer rollover accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 388. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. A Sheriff's deputy is on scene.

UPDATE 1:44 p.m.: Injuries are minor. Mercy medics are on scene. The vehicle is in the median.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: There were three patient sign-offs. The Batavia assignment is back in service. The rig was empty. It did leak a small amount of fluids.

A car vs. pedestrian accident is reported at Vine and North streets in the city. The bicyclist is lying in the roadway. Police, fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: The bicyclist was taken to Erie County Medical Center. All responders have cleared the scene.

A man is reportedly acting weird in the area near the Kwik Fill gas station at Jackson and Ellicott streets. He's described as white, wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans, last seen walking southbound. He was said to be talking to himself, rolling around on the ground and flailing his arms about. City police are looking for him now.

A dog is locked inside a vehicle at Pump #9 at the Travel Center in Pembroke. A Sheriff's deputy is responding. It's 80 degrees outside.

A pair of utility poles are broken in two and leaning, but not in the roadway, on Railroad Avenue in the Village of Alexander. A downed power line is in a field. Traffic is being closed to Railroad Avenue at Route 98 and at Sandpit Road. Also, traffic will be blocked at Sandpit and Dry Bridge roads. Alexander Fire Department is on scene. National Grid is aware of the problem and a crew will be responding.

UPDATE 5:02 p.m.: National Grid is on scene.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: The roads are reopened. Alexander is back in service.

A dog is reportedly locked inside a gray pickup truck in the parking lot at Kmart. A law enforcement officer is responding.

UPDATE 3:13 p.m.: The officer was unable to locate the gray Dodge pickup -- gone upon arrival. The officer is back in service.

A severe thunderstorm warning for Genesee County and other parts of Western New York is in effect until 3 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, Doplar Radar shows a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing quarter-size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. These storms were located along a line extending from five miles north of Youngstown to 20 miles west of Lewiston, moving east at 50 mph.

In Genesee County, Oakfield is mentioned in particular.

For the remainder of the day, the weather service predicts a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 78. West wind around 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a 10th of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight, it looks like showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog after 3 a.m. Low around 68. West wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Two dearly loved cats are missing after a car accident that occurred in the Town of Batavia on Aug. 15.

"Albert" and "Sophie" fled the scene following the smash-up on Route 63 at Sheppard Road that Thursday morning.

Owner David Hess hopes our readers can help.

Albert is a 6-year-old male, black and white short hair, neutured and microchipped. His right ear is flattened and scarred due to a past ear mite infection.

His constant companion, Sophie, is a 3-year-old female with medium length black fur.

If found, contact Kathy at (716) 472-8968 or e-mail David at dmh3@bell.net

UPDATE 3:30 p.m. Sept. 2: The owner of Albert and Sophie contacted us today via e-mail to let us know the cats have been returned safely by the Volunteers for Animals at the county shelter.

A golf cart is reportedly on fire in the parking lot at College Village, located at 8170 Batavia-Stafford Town Line Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:07 p.m.: Firefighters are on scene and report the golf cart is fully involved in flames.

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.: The fire is out.

A single car accident with a minor injury and air bag deployment is reported in front of Empire Tractor in the Town of Batavia, located at 5072 E. Main Street Road. A responder says the car is in the parking lot there after reportedly striking a sign then a piece of equipment. Town of Batavia fire is responding.

UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: Dispatchers didn't have to track down a contact person for the business. The store owner was driving by and saw the situation and stopped.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: The town assignment is back in service.