Two people sustained serious injuries in a three-vehicle accident, one of them a tractor-trailer, on Route 77 and McVean Road in Darien at 7:14 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing but reports that a 2022 Subaru was attempting to make a left-hand turn off of McVean onto Route 77. The tractor-trailer was northbound on Route 77. It appears the Subaru failed to yield the right of way to the truck.
As a result of the collision, one of the occupants of the Subaru was thrown from the vehicle and struck by a passing Ford Escape that was southbound.
The Subaru was driven by Brittany N. Smith, 30, of Macedon. She was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy EMS for treatment of her injuries.
The occupants were Kayleigh E. Williams, 30, of Rochester, who sustained serious injuries and was transported to Strong by Mercy EMS, and Ariana P. Dupra, 30, of Fairport, who sustained serious injuries and was transported to Strong by Mercy Flight.
Both Williams and Dupra are listed in critical condition.
The tractor-trailer was a 2002 Peterbilt with Ontario plates. The driver, Lyndord E. Yoder, 37, of Sebringville, Ontario, was not injured.
The 2018 Escape was driven by Brandon G. Schoener, 25, of Grand Island, and occupied by Allyson A. Schoener, 23, of Grand Island. Neither were injured and denied medical care at the scene.
Route 77 was crowded with concert traffic at the time of the accident, according to responders.
The investigation is ongoing and no charges, if any, were released. The Crash Management Team responded to the scene, which was closed to through traffic for several hours. Assisting at the scene were Darien Fire, Corfu Fire, Pembroke Fire, East Pembroke Fire, Mercy EMS, and the Corfu Police Department. An off-duty City Fire officer assisted with the Mercy Flight landing zone.
Genesee County's justice system took another step forward on Monday in the prosecution of Michael J. Elmore, implicated in the March 10 death of Sgt. line-of-duty death Thomas A. Sanfratello, and co-defendant Lyndsey J. Wilcox.
Both Elmore and Wilcox appeared in County Court before Judge Donald O'Geen for the first time and their attorneys, on their behalf, entered not-guilty pleas to the criminal indictments filed against each of them.
The hearing was standard procedure, with District Attorney Kevin Finnell affirming he had supplied the defense with all available discovery material, requesting an alibis demand, and stating that the people are ready for trial.
O'Geen then outlined the case's milestone dates, including trial dates if it reaches that far in the process.
The defense attorneys—Joseph A. Lobosco for Elmore and Daniel J. Dubois for Wilcox—have until July 12 to file motions. Defense attorneys typically file motions in criminal cases challenging the admissibility of evidence, the relevance of witnesses, and the possibility of constitutional violations (though every case is different, and there's been no public discussion of what motions the attorneys might make in this case).
The prosecution has until July 26 to file an answer to the motions.
Any hearing on the motions or other pre-trial issues will be held at 9:30 a.m. on July 31.
O'Geen provided each attorney with an anticipated schedule of proceedings after initial motions.
He set Aug. 23 at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing on any pre-trial motions, a follow-up hearing date of Sept. 20, a plea cutoff (the last day for defendants to accept any pending plea offer before trial) of Oct. 16 and a hearing date on any pending issues for Nov. 15. Then, if there is a trial, jury selection on Jan. 21. Opening arguments would begin on Jan. 23, with the trial scheduled to last until Feb. 11.
When Elmore and Wilcox were first arrested, they faced the same charges and both were ordered held on $100,000 bail.
On Monday, Dubois asked that his client, Wilcox, be released under supervision given the reduction of the top charges against her to burglary and assault. Finnell argued that since the top charges include mandatory prison terms if convicted, Wilcox should be held on bail. O'Geen reduced her bail to $20,000 cash, $50,000 bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond.
Elmore was indicted by the Grand Jury on counts of:
Aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, a Class B felony. He is accused of intending to cause serious physical injury to a police officer and, as result, causing the death of a police officer;
Aggravated criminally negligent homicide, a Class C violent felony. He is accused of causing the death of Sanfratello with criminal negligence;
Assault in the first degree, a Class B violent felony. Elmore is accused of causing the death of Sanfratello while in the commission of another crime, burglary in the second degree;
Burglary in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. He is accused of knowingly entering a building unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime in the building and threatening to use or did use a dangerous instrument.
Elmore and Wilcox are indicted on counts of:
Burglary in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. Elmore and Wilcox are accused of remaining unlawfully in a building with the intent to commit a crime in the building and, while in the building, causing serious physical injury to another person;
Assault in the second degree, a Class D violent felony. Elmore and Wilcox are accused of causing physical injury to a police officer who was in the act of performing his official duties;
Obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. The pair is accused of trying to intentionally prevent a police officer from performing his official duty by means of intimidation, physical force, or interference.
Wilcox is separately charged with resisting arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor. She is accused of intentionally trying to prevent her legal arrest.
The incident that led up to Sanfratello's death began at 12:43 a.m. on March 10, a Sunday morning following a pair of events at Batavia Downs on Saturday night, when Sanfratello and Batavia Downs security responded to the Rush 34 bar for a disturbance. There, Sanfratello confronted Wilcox, 39, of Batavia and ordered Wilcox to leave the building. While being escorted out, she allegedly became combative with Sanfratello. She is accused of hitting Sanfratello several times with the intent to injure him.
As Wilcox was being arrested, Elmore became involved and was also ordered to leave. He reportedly walked out of the building and came back in with a chain in his hand (a chain he was apparently wearing that night).
During the struggle, which included assistance from Batavia Downs security, Sanfratello reportedly tried to deploy his taser in an attempt to subdue the person attacking him.
According to initial reports, Sanfratello suffered a medical emergency during the struggle and became unresponsive. There was extensive effort, according to witnesses, to revive him with CPR. He was later pronounced dead by a county coroner.
For complete prior coverage of the case and related articles, click here.
Matt Pietrzykowski was named Firefighter of the Year by the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department. Presenting the award were Sean McPhee and Ryan Hinz. Photo by Howard Owens.
Alexander Volunteer Fire Department members were proud to show off their renovated rec hall on Saturday during its 2024 awards and installation dinner.
With freshly painted walls, ceiling and a newly poured epoxy floor, the $50,000 renovation gives the hall a fresher, newer look.
It was also a night to recognize a few of the department's key contributors in 2023, including Firefighter of the Year Matt Pietrzykowski, who responded to a fatal fire in February. He was the firefighter who found the deceased's body and was commended for his career and professionalism in handling the situation.
Jim Burkhardt and Regan McPhee were named EMS Providers of the Year.
Regan McPhee received the Chief's Award.
The newly installed officers are, on the Firematic side:
James Burkhardt, chief
Nathan Fix, deputy chief
Thomas Green, 1st assistant chief
Anthony Johnston, 2nd assistant chief
Matthew Pietrzykowski, 3rd assistant chief
Jenny McPhee, EMS captain
Todd Fleenor, EMS lieutenant
Nicholas Yackeren, truck lieutenant
Lance Scharlau, training captain
Bernie Fix, safety officer
John Meier, parade chairman
Heidi Richmond, parade co-chairman
Administrative officers:
Sean McPhee, president
Thomas Green, vice-president
Amanda Donnelly, recording secretary
Heidi McPhee, financial secretary
Barbara Pietrzykowski, treasurer
Robert Spiers, chaplin
and, trustees Matthew Fernaays, Nathan Fix, Amanda Donnelly, Nicholas Yackeren, Anthony Johnston, Darlene Merle, Matthew Pietrzkowski, and Matthew Grimes.
Jim Burkhardt and Regan McPhee were named EMS Providers of the Year. Presenting the awards were Todd Fleenor and Jenny McPhee. Photo by Howard Owens
Regan McPhee received the Chief's Award from Jim Burkhardt. Photo by Howard Owens.
Department President Sean McPhee with remarks during the ceremony. Photo by Howard Owens.
Installation of officers. Photo by Howard Owens.
Honoring members who passed. Photo by Howard Owens.
Honoring members who have passed, including former member Sgt. Thomas Sanfrello, with a Stetson on the right, who died in the line of duty on March 10. Photo by Howard Owens.
Cutting the anniversary cake, from left, Shanna Shaw, Kathy Dispenza, Debbie Chilano, Wendy Castleman, Debbie Stocking, and Angela Knisley. Photo by Howard Owens.
Volunteers for Animals celebrated its 40th anniversary on Saturday at Batavia First Presbyterian Church.
Julie Jenkins with shirts being sold to support VFA. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Mary Della Penna and Shanna Shaw with sheet pizzas donated by Main Street Pizza to the event. Main Street donated 10 sheet pizzas. Photo by Howard Owens.
Michael Joseph Torres, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. While attempting to locate a warrant suspect, Deputy Jeremy McClellan came into contact with Torres at 2:09 p.m. on May 14 on Columbia Avenue, Batavia, who was also wanted a warrant. Torres was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance. He was arraigned and released.
Lance Donald Beals, 53, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd. Beals is accused of pointing and shooting a BB gun toward another person, placing that person in fear of injury at 7:16 a.m. on May 14 at a location on West Main Street Road, Batavia. He was arraigned and released.
Nathan Wayne Campbell, 43, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Campbell was accused of stealing merchandise from Walmart at 12:56 p.m. on May 13. He was released on an appearance ticket.
Micahel J. Difalco is indicted on counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony, and menacing in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Difalco is accused of possessing a dangerous instrument on Dec. 21 in the city of Batavia while having previously been convicted of a crime. He is also accused of threatening another person with a dangerous instrument.
Daniel J. House is indicted on counts of criminal contempt in the first degree, a Class E felony, and harassment in the second degree, a violation. House is accused of violating an order of protection on Jan. 23 at a location in the town of Batavia and of having unwanted physical contact with another person.
James A. Williams is indicted on counts of DWI, a Class D felony, aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony, circumventing an interlock device, a Class A misdemeanor, and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree. Williams is accused of driving a 2008 Hyundai with an Ohio license plate on Route 33 in the town of Stafford while intoxicated on Sept. 24. He was allegedly driving intoxicated while knowing or should have known that his driving privileges were suspended. The Hyundai was not equipped with an interlock device. He is accused of trying to prevent a government official from performing his official duties. The felony DWI charge stems from a prior DWI conviction in March 2019 in Rochester.
Isaac C. King is indicted on a count of bail jumping in the second degree, a Class E felony. King is accused of failing to appear in Genesee County Court as ordered on a felony charge after being released on bail or on his own recognizance on Dec. 4.
Tanisha N. Gibson is indicted on a count of criminal mischief in the second degree, a Class D felony. Gibson is accused of intentionally damaging the property of another person on Jan. 8 with a value in excess of $1,500.
Lashayia S. Bussey is indicted on counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, and conspiracy in the fifth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Bussey is accused of stealing property with a value in excess of $1,000 on Sept. 14, 2022, in the town of Batavia. She is accused of concluding with another person to commit the crime.
Shameek T. Taylor is indicted on counts of criminal contempt in the first degree, a Class E felony, and burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony. Taylor is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection on Feb. 24 in the town of Batavia. On that same date, Taylor is accused of entering a building with the intent to commit a crime within.
Evan J. Vanskiver is indicted on a count of bail jumping in the second degree, a Class E felony. Vanskiver is accused of failing to appear in City Court as ordered on a felony charge.
Jacob W. Patterson is indicted on a count of promoting prison contraband in the first degree, Class D felony. Patterson is accused of introducing two glass pipes into the Genesee County Jail on Feb. 6.
Adrian L. Sheppard is indicted on a count of bailing jumping in the second degree, a Class E felony. Sheppard, having been released on his own recognizance, is accused of failing to appear in City Court as ordered on felony charges.
A tractor-trailer and car have collided at Jackson Street and Ellicott Street, Batavia.
Injuries are reported.
Traffic is blocked.
City Fire responding.
UPDATE 9:37 p.m.: Two patients critical, both pinned.
UPDATE 11 p.m.: Capt. Bob Fix said both patients appeared to be in serious condition following the accident and were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by ground ambulance. At least one of them may have been transported by Mercy Flight crews hadn't been grounded by weather. The Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team was requested to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. In the preliminary stages, Batavia police officers have no information on what may have occurred leading to the accident. The truck driver was not injured. There were only two people in the passenger vehicle.
Localized flooding in Pavilion created a swimming opportunity for two kids in their own front yard on Perry Road, said Shari Joy, who spotted the kids having fun in the large puddle on Friday afternoon.
In its second year, for a second time, Batavia's flag football team has a shot at a sectional title in Class B1 after beating Greece Olympia/Odyssey on Thursday 24-0.
The championship game will be played on Tuesday at Monroe Community College, with a game time of 5 p.m., against Greece Athena.
Batavia is the #1 seed in the tournament, and Athena is the #2 seed. Athene won its semifinal game over Monroe 33-0.
On Thursday, Anna Varland was 16-24 passing for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Varland also ran for 91 yards and a TD.
Ella Radley rushed for 117 yards and a TD.
Isabella Walsh had six catches for 55 yards.
Jaimin McDonald, five receptions, 51 yards and a TD.
Kylee Brennan, six flag pulls and an interception. Grace Parker also snagged an interception.
A vehicle has reportedly struck a building at 3910 W Main Street Road, the Colonial West Motel, in Batavia.
Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 10:32 a.m.: The driver was reported unconscious but a chief on scene reports the driver is conscious. He's backed his vehicle away from the building. There is no damage to the building. The chief requests a medical evaluation for the driver.
Bryce Bordonaro, a Le Roy High School graduate and son of the late Deputy Frank Bordonaro, graduated on Wednesday from the New York State Police Academy.
Bordonaro begins field training in Lockport on Friday.
Frank Bordonaro, 44, suffered a line-of-duty death in July 2014. Within a 24-hour period, the 19-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office was the responding officer to a fatal accident involving a pea harvester and a major house fire on North Road in Le Roy. He died of an apparent heart attack at home after ending his last duty shift.
Deborah Wood, special collections librarian at the Richmond Memorial Library, received the Women in American History Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, Anna Ingalsbe Lovell Chapter, on Monday. Photo by Howard Owens
A college professor told Deborah Wood, when she was working on her senior thesis, something that she has carried throughout her career: "It only takes one person at a time to get the stories told and the will to do so."
As the special collections librarian, helping people tell their stories has been a big part of her job, and that's one reason the Anna Ingalsbe Lovell Chapter of the Daughters of The American Revolution honored her as A Woman in American History on Monday.
For a woman to become a member of DAR, she must produce a genealogy that demonstrates an ancestor who assisted in the Revolutionary War effort.
"When I left teaching to pursue librarianship, I thought that part of my professional life was over, but in late 2021, the idea of history by the hearth was born in support of the library's mission, the local history collection, and by telling the people's stories of the journey through the Genesee Country region from a local and national perspective," Wood said. "When I was approached to collaborate with the DAR, to tell the stories of Deputy Husbands, women who provided direct support to the revolutionary patriots, and those that kept the home fires burning, I never blinked an eye."
Wood has a BA in history and a MA in history and public history from Brockport State College, and a MA in information and library science from the University at Buffalo.
At Richmond, she's organized many history lectures and discussions as well as conducted classes on genealogy.
The award recognizes women who have contributed or made a difference in their communities and who are or have been intellectual, educational, social, religious, political and significant or cultural innovators.
Robin Ettinger, NY vice-chair of the prospective member database, said the more than one million DAR members nationwide have been through genealogy research, looking for documents that connect them to a Revolutionary War patriot.
"Today, we have a large amount of information at our fingertips through the internet through the web," Ettinger said. "But a large percentage of the documents that we use and our members use are actually housed in churches, historical societies and local libraries."
Ettinger noted that the Richmond Memorial Library has received growing attention under Wood's guidance, and DAR members have noticed its dedication to genealogical research.
"Under her stewardship of the local history collection, she has made this library an excellent place to be in a person's family history research," Ettinger said. "Her mission of genealogy at the library helps her assist the researcher in discovering their story."
She said anybody with something to learn about genealogy would benefit from Wood's guidance.
"I recommend that if you are a new genealogist or if you just need a refresher course, you look her up when she's holding her genealogy workshops," Ettinger said. "Then, she can introduce you to all the tools available to research genealogy."
Wood said the award recognizes not merely her own efforts but all who support history in the library.
"I'm indebted to many -- our board of trustees, our present and past library directors and their support of the local history, the genealogy collection, History by the Hearth and Genealogy at the Library, where our collective memory lives, our stories are told, and our patrons discover the stories of their revolutionary ancestors in Genesee County," she said.
On Tuesday, Genesee County's Office for the Aging commemorated Older Americans Month with an open house at its community center on Bank Street in Batavia.
The agency is also approaching its 50th anniversary, which it will mark on June 1.
The open house was intended to help the entire community better understand the service available, but especially older adults who are new to the area or those who have recently turned 60 or 65, said Diana Fox, executive director.
The office offers various services to local residents age 60 and older, including support for caregivers, in-home services, meals, a nutrition program, help with services for seniors, and activities for seniors.
"You know, people sometimes say that it's kind of the best-kept secret, but I think one of the things that are so great about (the Office for the Aging) is that these are services that are available for the community that, for the most part, don't cost anything. People don't realize what we have to offer. And I'm just so proud of the staff and their commitment. The people who come here, and they work here for years and then sometimes retire from the Office for the Aging because it's such a great place to be, and we love the people who come in to see us."
