A car versus motorcycle accident with serious injuries is reported in the area of 7959 North Road, near Conlon Road, in the Town of Le Roy. The motorcycle rider is unconscious in the middle of the roadway. Mercy Flight was heading to the scene and is now cancelled by Le Roy medics. Le Roy Fire Department is responding. Fire Police have shut down Route 19 at North Road. Law enforcement is on scene.
UPDATE 7:07 a.m.: Le Roy medics are leaving the scene; back in service.
UPDATE 7:10 a.m.: Pavilion fire is requested to fill in at Le Roy's fire hall.
UPDATE 7:57 a.m.: This is a fatal accident and the coroner is on scene.
UPDATE 8:54 a.m.: Here's a statement from Sheriff's Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble at the scene:
"Looks like the small blue car and the motorcycle were westbound on North Road. From what we understand, the driver of the small car wanted to turn around and go back the direction they were going. Looks like they slowed, maybe pulled off to the right some; motorcycle coming up behind them; looks like (the motorcyclist) saw (the car) slowing and pulling into the right; (the motorcycle was) slowing...to start to go around the vehicle.
"Small vehicle didn't see the motorcycle coming; did a U-turn and the collision took place somewhere in the center of the lane, maybe even some into the eastbound lane. Motorcycle driver, by the marks in road, looks like they started into their pass and then motorcycle layed down and motorcycle and driver slid into the side of the car -- to the left side of the car. That's about it."
The vehicle is described as possibly a tiny Smart car.
UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: Pavilion's standby is released and they are back in service.
UPDATE 9:22 a.m.: The Le Roy assignment is back in service.
UPDATE 9:57 a.m.: The family has been notified, but the name of the victim has not yet been released.
UPDATE Noon (by Howard): The motorcycle driver is identified as Joshua J. Lowery, 26, of Brockport. The Smart car was driven by Jeffrey J. Simek, 55, of New Smyrna, Fla. The preliminary investigation indicates that Simek slowed, moving to his right and then began to initiate a U-turn. Lowery's 1998 Suzuki struck the Smart car. Lowery was pronounced dead at the scene. Simek was not injured.
The accident was reported at 6:40 a.m. Le Roy Fire Department and Le Roy Ambulance Service responded. The investigation is being conduct by Deputy Brad Mazur, Investigator William Ferrando, Sgt. Jim Meier and Deputy Eric Seppala.
One additional comment Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble made at the scene was that when Simek made his turn, if he looked down North Road, he would have been looking east directly into the sun.
The person may have been
The person may have been driving a Smart Car, but his/ her U turn was not a smart move. It is sad that a person's life was lost because of this action.
You can be SO careful when
You can be SO careful when turning around or backing out of a parking space...looking multiple times, yet there are blind spots and others who maybe don't think you're going to move. Accidents happen, I don't think this person was necessarily "not smart", maybe (s)he just made a move at a very unfortunate moment. Peace to the family of the motorcyclist as well as the driver of the car.
There's a reason I took a
There's a reason I took a picture with the sun in it ... my picture was taken close to two hours after the accident.
I was turned around on my
I was turned around on my commute this morning due to the accident. I was there before the ambulance even got there, so it had just happened. My comment was that the sun probably had something to do with it--it was still low on the horizon and super brutal this particular morning. So very sad.
Car versus motorcycle
Car versus motorcycle "accident".....accident.....hmmmm....I think a lot of these should be called mistakes.....accidents can't be avoided....it's human nature...mistakes on the other hand , can be avoided.....and the person in this smart car, clearly made a mistake. Unfortunately, a lot of people's lives were affected by this " mistake"....just my opinion...
I agree steve. It looks like
I agree steve. It looks like a double solid line and a curve ? It was a choice to make a u turn even when you were blinded by the sun. Not an accident. Also my opinion.
Theres a reason U-turn are
Theres a reason U-turn are frowned upon and actually illegal in most places. What could possibly be so urgent that you couldn't wait for the next driveway, or parkinglot or street to turn around. Chris and Steve are right in their opinions, someone lost their life because someone was sensible enough to assess the hazards and then went and did something really ignorant.
From what I heard the incident described this poor motorcyclist had laid down the bike for a distance before impact, so he had time to know what was coming and to me that's the worst way possible to have this type of incident.