The driver of a sedan that smashed into a tree on Route 262 in Elba shortly after 5:30 a.m. may face a DWI charge.
Corey Hemmer, 25, of Elba, was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC.
Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said a blood sample was taken from Hemmer and additional charges may be pending.
Hemmer is in intensive care.
Also injured where Megan Ann Gregg, 18. She is listed in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. Strong's policy is to list anybody in intensive care as "guarded."
The third victim in the crash is Aaron Pahuta, 19. He underwent emergency surgery at ECMC this morning.
Hemmer was reportedly driving westbound on Route 262 just east of Route 98 when his Pontiac drifted off the north side of the roadway. The car struck a tree head on.
Sgt. Brian Frieday said at the scene that a passerby found the wreckage some time after the accident. Investigators were unsure at that time how much earlier the accident had occurred.
All three occupants had to be extricated and transported to hospitals by Mercy Flight.
The accident is under investigation by the Crash Management Team of the Sheriff's Office.
Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS responded to the scene and Town of Batavia Fire Department was dispatched to provide additional extrication tools and manpower.
Note: Upon request of the Sheriff's Office, publication of photos withheld until victim notifications completed.
All the comments in this
All the comments in this thread have been removed (mainly because they all in one way or another referenced the first comment, which we should have removed as soon as we saw it (which wasn't until it had already received a couple of responses)).
We regret not removing it sooner and apologize to the families of the victims.
And we would ask people who leave comments on stories such as this to be sensitive to family members and friends of victims. While there is certain commentary on stories of this nature that perhaps has societal and civic value, full consideration should be given to family and friends.