The two drivers involved in an accident yesterday afternoon on Route 33 in Bergen are both in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Strong lists all patients being cared for in the intensive care unit as "guarded."
The drivers are identified by State Police as Donald L. Bausch, 74, of Batavia, and Otavia M. Bell, 18, of Rochester.
Troopers believe Bell failed to yield the right of way to Bausch, causing a T-bone accident.
There was an engine fire in Bell's car and among the first people on scene were employees of Genesee Lumber. They used a forklift they were transporting to tilt Bell's car enough to get her out of the vehicle. Bell was in-and-out of consciousness and when she regained consciousness, she was incoherent and said she thought there was another person in the vehicle with her.
Since a second person wasn't found in the vehicle, the Genesee Lumber employees used the forklift to raise her vehicle so firefighters should check under it for another patient. There was no second person.
Bausch had to be extricated from his vehicle.
UPDATE: Don Bausch is the brother of Legislator Bob Bausch.
Previously: Accident reported on Route 33, Bergen
Serious accidents are always
Serious accidents are always tragic, and mostly preventable as they are usually caused by reckless or distracted driving. Have to wonder if the young girl, who apparently blew thru a Stop sign causing this crash, was texting or using her cell phone? Even though police have cracked down on this activity, I see people every day who are on their phone and/or obviously texting. while driving. Would a $50 fine change their ways? Not likely. Would a serious accident (if they survived) do it???
BTW, excellent heads-up response by the Genesee Lumber workers.