At about 3:30 p.m., a car driven by a female struck the back of a semi-trailer on West Main Street near the intersection of River Street.
Both vehicles were westbound.
City fire, City PD and Mercy EMS all responded.
The woman suffered minor injuries and was transported to UMMC for evaluation.
No further information available at this time.
A seemingly widespread power outage has apparently hit a portion of the City of Batavia.
We've heard reports of power out on the Southside, on Park Road, West Main and all of the stop lights from Ross Street to the west are out.
The Batavian Office, at Main and Center, downtown, currently has power.
There's also a report of some people not having mobile phone service.
National Grid has not yet released any information about the outage.
Reminder: There's no need to call 9-1-1 or the emergency dispatch center about the power outage. Dispatchers are aware of the outage, have no real information about it, and can't help you get your power back on. Calls to emergency dispatch should be reserved to an actual fire, police or EMS need. The Batavian will strive to keep you as informed as possible about the outage, as information becomes available.
UPDATE 1 p.m.: City fire is responding to a report of a smoke smell in the building at the Salvation Army on Jackson Street. As for the power outage, Batavia PD is stationing officers at key intersections for traffic control.
UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: There are 4,484 National Grid customers without power. The outage is the entire west side of Batavia and as far north as the Village of Elba and south to Alexander. No word on why or an ETA for repairs. There's a question as to whether Batavia PD will man traffic control locations for an extended time period because of weather conditions. Verizon customers appear to be without service and we've also heard that Time Warner customers may be without service.
UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: From a National Grid spokesman: "It appears we've lost power to a substation that serves a good portion of the city, approx. 7,800 customer accounts. Crews have been dispatched but we do not yet know the cause or the restoration estimate. I'll get that to you as soon as we have it. We received our first report only about 15 minutes ago." That would be now, 20 minutes ago. Also, 7,800 is probably the number of accounts citywide, but the outage appears to have hit only about half the city and some outlying areas. We'll try to clarify the count."
UPDATE 3:11 p.m.: Power was fully restored about 10 minutes ago. Stephen Brady, spokesman for National Grid said the power outage was caused by an "ingress" of water into the switch gear, which caused a breaker problem.
UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: Actually, it looks like the area between Batavia and Elba is still without power. Some 500 customers affected.
UPDATE 4:40 p.m.: Photos added of traffic tie-up at Oak and Main during the power outage, with Batavia PD directing traffic. At this point, there are a total of 11 customers in the city without power.
Here's some day-after-the-big-storm pictures.
Above, City firefighters digging out a fire hydrant on Ellicott Street.
Sandy Stendts shoveling snow on South Main Street.
Greg Rada blowing snow on Lyons Street.
A city employee plowing a sidewalk on Oak Street.
Traffic on Oak Street. Streets remain covered with compacted snow (and some of it not so compacted).
Centennial Park.
The Rowell Mansion, Ellicott and Richmond.
Evan Ryan Kotarski, 22, of Oak Street, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol, unlawful possession of marijuana, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, speed not reasonable and prudent and failure to keep right. Kotarski is allegedly the driver of a vehicle involved in a one-car accident at 11:45 p.m. Sunday on South Pearl Street Road, Oakfield. Kotarski's car reportedly spun out and struck a fire hydrant and a utility pole. Kotarski allegedly fled from the scene, but was located a short distance away.
Tyler Pasquale Schroder, 21, of Lewiston Road, Oakfield, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged failure to pay the fine on a petit larceny charge. Schroeder was arrested following his release from the Wyoming County Jail on an unrelated matter and taken to Elba Town Court for his alleged failure to pay the fine on a petit larceny charge. He was jailed on $600 bail.
Oscar Enrique Martinez, 31, of Federal Drive, Batavia, was arrested as an alleged fugitive from justice. Martinez was being held at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia and was awaiting deportation. Martinez reportedly has 15 aliases and was being held under the name of Andres Luna-Nogroto. He was identified as by Manatee County, Fla., officials as a subject wanted for alleged sexual battery. Martinez was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and ordered held without bail pending an extradition hearing.
Carlos Enrique Reyes, 39, of 1259 Lyell Ave., Rochester, was arrested on a warrant for alleged criminal contempt. Reyes was arrested upon his release from the Monroe County Jail, where he was held on an unrelated matter, for alleged failure to appear in Bergen Town Court. Reyes was arraigned and released on condition that he submit to a DNA test and return to court on Jan. 15.
Robert L. Kaufman, 52, of Akron Road, Akron, is charged with trespass and stalking in the 4th degree. Kaufman was arrested following a complaint of harassment reported at 12:40 p.m. Jan. 5 at an undisclosed location in the City of Batavia. Kaufman was jailed on $2,500 bail. No further details released by Batavia PD.
Juan A. Roman, 36, of Portland Avenue, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal contempt, 1st. Roman was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at a location on Ellicott Street. Roman was arraigned and ordered held without bail. No other details released by Batavia PD.
A two-car motor vehicle accident is reported on Route 19 and Selden Road, Le Roy.
Le Roy fire and ambulance dispatched.
There are reportedly a number of cars off the road at Ford Hill.
UPDATE 6:54 a.m.: A chief on scene confirms multiple cars off the road. Route 19 is being shut down.
UPDATE 6:55 a.m.: DOT requested to the scene. Heavy ice conditions. More manpower requested to the scene.
UPDATE 7 a.m.: Another vehicle is reported off the road on Griswold Road, Le Roy, with significant damage. There's also a property damage accident, reported before the one on Route 19, on Perry Road. The travel ban for the county was only just lifted now.
UPDATE 7:06 a.m.: A deputy informs dispatch that unless DOT can get the road cleaned up, Route 19 is going to be shut down for a while.
UPDATE 7:11 a.m.: Le Roy's ambulance, with no patients to treat, is being repositioned at Selden Road so its emergency lights can be used to help control traffic. It's in service if needed for a medical call. A DOT plow just arrived on scene, but the truck doesn't have any salt. A chief says, "He can't help us. Don't send him through. I don't need that here."
UPDATE 7:56 a.m.: All vehicles have been removed. Le Roy fire is keeping the road shut down until it's salted. The DOT truck is expected back, with salt.
Sheriff Gary Maha has lifted the travel ban for Genesee County effective at 7 a.m.
"Weather conditions have improved and winds have lessened," Maha said in a statement. "Visibility should not be a problem, however, many roads are snow covered and slippery. Caution is recommended when driving."
In case you haven't had enough snow yet, we're being told to expect another 4 to 7 inches today.
A lake effect snow advisory has been issued and is in effect until 7 p.m.
The blizzard warning is cancelled and the wind chill warning is cancelled.
Winds are expected to be 10 to 20 mph. Wind chill values will be as low as 14 below zero.
Travel conditions may be difficult at times.
Deputies are heading out to the various locations were truckers are parked to let them know that one lane of the Thruway is open in each direction in what one dispatcher called a "soft opening" of the I-90.
The goal is to start clearing truck traffic, especially in those areas, such as portions of Route 63 and Route 77, where truckers have parked to wait out the hazardous travel conditions.
A travel ban has been in effect all night for Genesee County and remains in effect at this hour. County officials are currently meeting at emergency operations center discussing the matter after sending road crews out to assess the situation.
No word yet on when the ban might be lift.
UPDATE 5:25 a.m.: A deputy reports Route 77 is now clear of truck traffic.
UPDATE 5:37 a.m.: Office Max, Home Depot and Target parking lots are now clear. Truckers at Walmart being notified next.
UPDATE 5:46 a.m.: The travel advisory for Wyoming County has been lifted.
UPDATE 5:51 a.m.: Walmart is clear. Kmart is next.
UPDATE 6:33 a.m.: Truck traffic for fuel going into Flying J is getting backed up on Route 77. A deputy says he's going to have to shut down truck traffic at Brickhouse Corners.
UPDATE 7:09 a.m.: Route 77 is being closed to all northbound traffic at Brickhouse Corners.
First, they ran out of room at the Flying J, then the Pembroke High School lot filled up, so deputies starting sending trucks to look for parking in Batavia.
The lots have filled up at Walmart, Home Depot and Target. Batavia Downs remains pretty open. Kmart has refused to allow truck parking.
No word on whether City Centre has been considered.
UPDATE 9:22 p.m.: While it's been reported several times by deputies that Kmart is out of bounds for truckers, a picture has been posted on Facebook showing, reportedly, truckers lined up in parking spaces at Kmart.
Normally, according to Peter Metzler, at Porter Farms, ewes start to lamb in March and April, so it came as quite a surprise today when this little one was found -- an unexpected newborn in the freezing cold, shivering by its mother. Jake Hillabush is holding the lamb to help warm it up shortly after it was found. The lamb was born sometime between morning and afternoon chores. Once the little one was warmed a bit, they put mom and baby in a small pen to bed down and stay warm in a pile of straw.
Here are the closings and cancellations we have so far for Wednesday in Genesee County:
There is hope the travel ban currently in place for Genesee County will be lifted in the morning.
E-mail closings and cancellations to howard@thebatavian.com.
Officials are looking closely at weather patterns, not just the snow forecasts, but what the wind will do over the next several hours, as they contemplate the timing of removing a travel ban in Genesee County.
Best guess, the travel ban will be lifted some time in the morning.
Throughout the night, there's only a 30-percent chance of snow in Genesee County and by 3 a.m., winds will dip below 20 mph for the first time.
That's about the time additional plow crews will hit the roadways, said Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator for Genesee County.
"We're trying to coordinate everything now," Yaeger said. "With different municipalities, there's different capabilities for plowing the roads and we want to make sure all is clear and safe before we lift the travel ban. By sometime after midnight or by three o'clock we'll have a better idea. I'm hopeful we'll be able to get traffic moving in the morning.
Pembroke is still in really bad shape," Yaeger added. "The southern part of the county and Pembroke are in the worst shape."
While city streets are largely cleared of snow, Yaeger noted, "it's just a sheet of ice underneath."
With temperatures at or near zero, merely salting the roadways is largely ineffective.
The winds are the real problem though, because blowing and drifting snow create whiteout conditions and make plowing some roads pretty much futile. The snow drifts back over the surface minutes after the snow plow leaves the area.
"Things are improving," Yaeger said. "The winds are dying down, the snow is subsiding. If it keeps at it, hopefully we'll be in good shape in the morning."
Cory Coles, on Lincoln Avenue, said, "The cold can't keep me indoors."
The overturned milk truck on Route 20. Photo by Jeremiah Russell.
Photo by Sarah Sauka.
Photo by Sarah Sauka.
Dave Kurch, of Darien, said the wind is keeping his driveway clear.
Main Street, Corfu, by Shane Hale.
A picture from Mark on Seven Springs Road.
Photo by Stephanie Crandall.
Photo by Teresa Calkins.
Photo by Donna Carter, Alexander.
Photo by Sally Waldron, Bethany.
Photo by Sally Waldron, Bethany.
Routes 5 and 77, Corfu, by Brian Schollard.
The backyard of Anne Marie Starowitz, Chestnut Street.
Monique, on Lewiston Road, shot this picture through her back window. She said normally she can see Walmart from here.
Photo by Cara Grosshans.
Photo by Lisa Ace.
Regarding the Girls Basketball Rotary Tournament originally schedule to start tonight, the first round games will be played Thursday night.
The championship game will be held at 7 p.m., Saturday. The consolation game will be made up at another time.
Also, from the Village of Le Roy:
Normally scheduled garbage pick-up for Wednesday, January 8, 2014 will be RESCHEDULED to Thursday, January 9, 2014 due to weather.
Route 20 is reopened from the earlier accident. Traffic backed up for quite a distance, a deputy reports.
A deputy is giving one of the vehicle drivers a ride to Flying J.
Another deputy shared that he just learned the Batavia Downs parking lot is empty, so he's going to start sending some of the semi-truck drivers that have no place to park to that location.
"Some of them say say they need fuel. Unfortunately, I can't help them there."
UPDATE 5:22 p.m.: A deputy reports that Kmart is not permitting truckers to park in their empty lot. Approved parking lots are Walmart, Home Depot and Batavia Downs.
Also, we didn't catch a location, but a deputy was dispatched to check on two dogs that were left outside.
A head-on collision is reported at 9450 Alexander Road, between Dodgeson and Pike, Alexander.
Alexander fire and Mercy EMS responding.
A chief on scene reports there appears to be no injuries.
Because of server issues, we won't likely be able to update this post if there are updates.
There are two accidents reported -- one on West Main at Lyons and the other in Darien on Route 20 near Harper Road.
The accident in the city is reportedly head-on, but with one minor injury.
Minor injuries also reported in Darien. The conditions there are described as zero visibility.
Alexander is asked to close Route 20 to westbound traffic.
From the fire in Pavilion, Pavilion fire is back in service.
Because of ongoing server issues, it will likely be impossible for us to update this post.
We've been struggling all morning with server issues. We just made some changes that look promising for making a difference.
About an hour ago, Pavilion fire responded to a basement fire at 10816 Cook Road, Pavilion. Le Roy fire responded mutual aid. There was a second alarm for tankers from Batavia and Stafford. The fire is now out.
We previously posted that there is a travel ban now in place for Genesee County. Details here.
The Thruway is closed in both directions through Genesee County.
There have been numerous reports of trucks and cars off roadways and minor vehicle accidents over the past two or three hours. There have been no serious injury accidents reported.
The folks at the Daily News asked that we help get the word out that there will be no newspaper delivery today due to weather conditions. Today's paper will be delivered tomorrow, with Wednesday's paper.
We will continue to monitor the scanner and provide updates for the duration of the storm, but we are also under the travel ban so I won't be able to go out to any breaking news situations.
So long as the server holds, we'll do our best to keep you updated on anything of interest we find out about.
If you have weather pictures to share, send them to howard@thebatavian.com. In focus, no camera shake, well exposed and sufficient resolution to publish (at least 460 pixels wide).
The Sheriff's Office has just announced a travel ban for Genesee County.
More details when they become available.
Official announcement:
Effective immediately, the previously issued travel advisory is being upgraded to a travel ban for all of Genesee County until further notice. A travel ban means no travel for anyone but emergency vehicles which includes police, ambulance, snow plows, etc. Blowing and drifting snow are creating impassable roads. In addition, accidents and stranded vehicles are blocking roadways and creating unsafe traveling conditions for motorists.
Sheriff Maha stated, “For the safety of the residents of Genesee County, please stay home or where you are until conditions improve.”
UPDATE: We spoke with Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, who reiterated that the purpose of the travel ban is to get all non-essential traffic off the road. That means, of course, stay home, but it also means stay where you are. If you're at work, stay at work. The travel ban will remain in place until the weather emergency is over. The storm is supposed to lift in the morning. Dibble compared this blizzard to 1977, which came on without warning and there was no end in sight. For the blizzard of '14, we had advance warning and we seem to have a definitive end time. "We've seen it coming for days. There's no reason for people not to be prepared," Dibble said. Driving in violation of the travel ban could lead to a citation, not to mention an accident or getting stranded.
Here's an idea of what near zero-visibility looks like at Main and Ellicott. Driving conditions are tough and for the most part, there isn't a lot of traffic on area roads.
James Koenig shoveling his drive on Summit Street.
Daniel Wilson shoveling his drive on Vine Street.
Holland Land Office Museum.
The old Firehouse on West Main.
The County Court House, which is closed today.
The back of St. Jerome's.
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