A mother and her adult son from Albion were killed Saturday afternoon in a two-vehicle collision on a snow-covered Route 98 in Elba.
Teresa M. Norton, 53, was driving a 2008 Suzuki SUV north on Route 98, with her son, Thomas M. Norton, 22, in the passenger seat, when the vehicle hit a long patch of deep snow in an area about a mile north of Batavia Elba Townline Road. Norton apparently lost control of the Suzuki and it slid sideways. A 2011 Chevrolet pickup truck was southbound. The truck, driven by Jeffrey S. Toussaint, 59, of Albion, struck the Suzuki on the passenger side.
Toussaint was transported to Erie County Medical Center by Mercy EMS for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The property west of the accident, according to county records, is owned by Torrey Farms. According to sources, there were no snow fences installed along the west side of Route 98. NYS Department of Transportation is responsible for maintenance of Route 98, including erecting snow fences where they might be needed.
The Batavian was at the crash scene shortly after the accident and that section of Route 98, as well as a section south of Townline Road, were heavily covered in snow, at least several inches thick.
First responders described the roadway as hazardous when they were arriving on scene.
DOT snow plows arrived at Route 98 about 30 minutes after the accident.
Both mother and son were pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Karen Lang.
New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the accident and is leading the investigation with assistance from troopers and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The investigation is not yet complete.
The Elba Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the accident with mutual aid from Town of Batavia and Town of Oakfield fire departments.
Photos: Reader submitted photos.
I wonder if they had snow
I wonder if they had snow tires. All seasons really aren't any good, not when there's over an inch or two of snow.
I was returning from Media
I was returning from Media from a funeral-memorial service. The road R-98 was mostly bare with the exception of open areas with snow blowing across the road. It was treacherous in spots. When I waiting in a line of backed-up traffic, I watched the scene with binoculars. Eventually, I was turned around by the volunteer fireman and took a barely- paved-no-shoulder fully snow-covered road that intersected with bank street road. I know the roads in Genesee County, and bottom line, and especially North-South Roads in open country-slow down.