accident

Big vehicles and a quick reaction by one driver may have helped keep a serious accident from turning tragic, according to officials at the scene of a 2:20 p.m. collision on Route 19 and Perry Road in Le Roy.

The driver of a 1991 Cadillac was apparently following a friend's car too closely, according to State Police Sgt. Kurt Schmitt, and when the friend's car slowed to make a left-hand turn onto Perry Road, the Caddy's driver, Timothy Coates, 17, of Churchville, had to take evasive action.

Coates, who was the most seriously injured in the accident, tried to brake and clipped the left rear of his friend's car before swerving into the northbound lane of Route 19.

Heading southbound in a white Dodge Ram pickup truck was Matt Hendershott, 28, of East Bethany.

"The Caddy just came into my lane and that's about all I had time to see," said Hendershott, a volunteer firefighter with the Bethany department. "Apparently I took evasive action because I left skid marks on the shoulder."

Hendershott was not injured.

"If we have a call tonight, I'm responding," Hendershott said.

Schmitt confirmed that the investigation showed that Hendershott reacted quickly and avoided a head-on collision with the Cadillac.

"It could have been very serious," Schmitt said. "We were discussing earlier that they came within a foot of hitting head on. Because somebody was paying attention to their driving and reacted quickly, we avoided a more serious situation."

Asked by a reporter if the Cadillac's size was a factor, Schmitt that in his personal opinion, it was.

"It's one of those old battle wagons," Schmitt said. "The smaller cars are more economical but in cases like this, that's not always better."

Coates was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

"We have positive thoughts about his condition," Schmitt said.

He will likely be cited for following too closely.

Le Roy Fire Chief Mike Sheflin thanked the volunteers from Le Roy and Pavilion for their quick response to the scene.

He said it was also helpful that the driver of the car Coates was following was an off-duty EMT.

The driver, Matthew Mandoler, 21, of Rochester, was able to provide emergency responders with a quick assessment of the scene and victims.

"The more information we can get when we arrive on the scene, the more quickly we can formulate a plan," Sheflin said.

Once on scene, it took the volunteers only 12 minutes to extricate Coates.

A passenger in Mandoler's car, Mike Schockow, said Mandoler took charge of the scene immediately after the crash and until emergency responders arrived. He did his best to keep everybody calm and organize help for the victims.

"I'd never seen anything like this before," Schockow said. "I was kind of having a panic attack. I'd never been in an accident before and it was scary."

Neither Schockow nor Mandoler were injured.

A passenger in the Cadillac suffered a minor arm injury.

Besides Le Roy fire, Pavilion fire, State Police and Mercy Flight, responding to the scene were Le Roy Ambulance and Mercy EMS.

(Initial Report)

A car accident, with possibly minor injuries, is reported in Darien on Snipery Road, just south of the railroad tracks. The patient is requesting an evaluation.

Darien Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: The first responder says there are no injuries. One vehicle is blocking traffic.

A three-car accident with serious injuries is reported at Route 19 and Perry Road in the Town of Le Roy. Mercy Flight is airborne. Extrication is required for the occupant(s) of one vehicle. Traffic police are needed.

Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service and Pavilion Fire Department and are responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The patient needing extrication is out of the vehicle.

UPDATE 2:56 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne, but we don't have the destination.

UPDATE 3:41 p.m.: All units back in service. The roadway is reopened.

An 82-year-old man was critically injured Friday afternoon when the three-wheel bike he was riding on Park Road was struck by a motorcycle.

According to Sgt. Kurt Schmitt, State Police, Gerald Sojda, of Park Road, Batavia, was southbound on Park when he pulled his bike into traffic and was struck by a 2009 Harley ridden by Noah Majewski, 22, of Batavia.

Sojda, who was transported to ECMC by Mercy EMS, was listed in critical condition because of his age and a significant amount of blood loss.

Schmitt said troopers spoke with Sojda's daughter today and "all signs look encouraging" for his recovery.

No citations have been issued, Schmitt said.

Two people suffered minor injuries Friday when a car they were in traveled off Lewiston Road and overturned.

Susan M. Geiger, 39, of Ridge Road, Medina, reportedly lost control of the car after she had driven onto the north shoulder of Lewiston and attempted to get back on the highway.

The investigation report prepared by Sgt. Greg Walker indicates the roadway was recently resurfaced with a stone and oil base.

The accident occurred at 6:07 p.m. in the area of 1768 Lewiston Road, Alabama.

Geiger and her passenger, Stephanie M. Persons, 21, had complaints of pain but were not transported to a hospital.

One of Batavia High's standout students was among a group of heroes Friday who came to the rescue of a teenage girl who hit her head on a rock when she fell several feet from a cliff at Indian Falls.

The girl, Kourtney McCorry, 17, of Spencerport, was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight, but was conscious and alert after being pulled from the water.

Deputy Timothy Wescott said he was able to interview McCorry at the scene before she was transported and she was aware of her surroundings, recognized her father and understood what was happening.

She remembered, according to Wescott, climbing up the cliff of the falls with the help of her boyfriend. She grabbed the branch of a tree and the branch gave way. She fell and remembers seeing rocks below her and then she blacked out.

"She said she didn't know if she blacked out because she hit the rocks or out of fear of what might happen to her," Wescott said.

Evan Sutherland, a Batavia High School basketball player and member of the championship mock trial team, was at the falls with his friend, Andrew Hoy, a recent graduate of BHS and the Blue Devil's all-time leading scorer in basketball.  

Sutherland (left inset photo from one of his mock trial appearances this year) was the first to dive in the water to try and rescue the girl, Hoy said.

"I had just walked up and I got to like the edge of the cliff and saw her falling and she landed head first on the rocks," Hoy said. "It looked like her neck snapped. Then she went under for a few seconds and we couldn’t find her. We were still standing at the top and then she floated to the top of the water and my friend Evan Sutherland was the first one to react and he jumped into the water and there was another one of her friends over from where she fell from and he jumped in, too. They both dragged her out."

Hoy said the girl regained consciousness while she was still in the water, and Westcott said McCorry remembered coming to in the water surrounded by people.

The Batavian tried to interview Sutherland at the scene, but one of the Log Cabin's unruly patrons interfered with the interview and told him not to talk to the media.

Attempts to contact Sutherland Friday night were unsuccessful.

The legendary Log Cabin Restaurant, which includes a bar, is next to the falls and while the rescue was under way, the owner sent a representative to talk to journalists at the scene from The Batavian and the Daily News with a request that media outlets not report that the kids who swim and dive at the falls might enter the falls from the Log Cabin's property.

It's unknown how McCorry, Hoy and Sutherland, among the other youths enjoying the falls Friday, entered the area. 

The section of the Tonawanda Creek in the area of Indian Falls is owned by Genesee County and people can enter the area from near Route 77 without trespassing on private property. 

The volunteer fire departments of Indian Falls and Pembroke were the first emergency responders on scene.

Indian Falls and Pembroke volunteers set up a rope line across the creek and walked through the water to the north bank.

The Genesee County Rope Team -- made up of more than 20 volunteers from all of the county's volunteer fire departments -- responded to the scene along with Genesee County Emergency Services.

The team found a clearing in the brush along the creek's cliff on the north side and lowered a stretcher down to McCorry's location. Medical personnel were then lowered down.

It took more than 90 minutes to stabilize McCorry and slowly lift her to the top of the cliff.

Indian Falls Fire Chief Ed Mileham (bottom right inset) explained that it's a slow process to ensure both the safety of the victim and the rope crews.

"When you look at the fact that she's down 70 feet, the safest way up is up the bank," Mileham said. "We had 20 guys here from the (rope) team, they got down there, two of them set up harnesses and then they go down the bank -- yeah, by the time they get set up and everything, there's a little bit of time, but she appeared to be stable, so the guys were able to take their time and make sure they were safe before they got down in there."

Friday's mishap wasn't the first time this summer that Indian Falls and Pembroke responded to a near drowning at the falls.  

On June 5, another person looking for some recreation on the falls fell in and had to be rescued.

"It’s pretty dangerous," Mileham said. "If they don’t get far enough from the falls, they hit the rocks."

However, only two calls this summer is a far cry from how things used to be, Mileham noted.

"There’s been a problem down here for years," Mileham said. "Back in the '60s and '70s it used to be quite a place for kids to party and swim. I’ve been told that at one point there were 10 to 12 drownings here in one year from diving off the falls."

The Alabama and Oakfield fire departments also assisted at the scene.

There is a one-car rollover accident reported at Sandhill and Shanks roads, Alexander.

There are injuries, but all victims are out of the car.

Alexander Fire Department is responding.

A one-car rollover accident is reported at 1768 Lewiston Road in Alabama. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. Unknown injuries.

UPDATE 6:13 p.m.: The occupants are out of the car. There are no injuries.

A person is trapped in a ravine in Indian Falls, and it is unknown whether the person fell in or hiked in. The Genesee County Heavy Rope Team is on scene along with members of county emergency services, and Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments. Mercy Flight has been dispatched.

The staging area is in the vicinity of the Log Cabin Restaurant.

UPDATE 6:01 p.m.: Andrew Hoy said he and his friend, Evan Sutherland, were at the falls when he saw a girl fall from a cliff head first, landing on the rocks. Her body slipped into the water and she appeared to be unconscious. Sutherland and another bystander jumped in the water and pull her to shore. She revived while she was still in the water. She's being boarded and collared and tended to.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: The victim's name is Kourtney McCorry, a 17-year-old resident of Spencerport. She was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital complaining of pain in her left shoulder, right ankle, right wrist and head. She was fully alert and able to be interviewed by Sheriff's Deputy Tim Wescott before leaving on Mercy Flight. She told him she and her boyfriend were climbing up a steep, rocky incline by the falls. He was helping her, but when she grabbed a branch, the branch gave way, causing her to fall. In addition to Evan Sutherland and the other bystander who pulled her from the water, a cook from the Log Cabin crossed the creek with towels and gave her first aid until EMTs arrived. The name of the cook was not released. At least one other person may have helped prior to emergency responders arriving.

A  two-vehicle accident is reported in front of the muffler shop at 633 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia. One elderly person involved is disoriented. City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported in the area of 788 Genesee St. in Corfu. There are four people involved, one is an infant, all are conscious and alert. One person is entrapped, another is complaining of back pain. Corfu Fire Department is responding along with Mercy EMS. An ambulance from Darien is also responding, mutual aid.

A person is trapped in a car following a rollover accident at Colby and Sumner roads, Darien.

The victim is conscious, but there is a smell of gasoline leaking.

Darien Fire Department is dispatched with mutual aid from Corfu.

UPDATE 9:46 a.m.: Everybody is out of both vehicles. Two flatbed tows requested. One car is "in pieces." Another is on its roof. Something will be needed to transport a gas tank that was ripped from one vehicle. Mercy Flight, Mercy EMS canceled. Corfu back in service.

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A three-car accident is reported on the westbound Thruway at exit 48A. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are dispatched.

UPDATE 3:01 p.m.: There are two trucks into a guardrail. No injuries. All units back in service.

Lt. Eugene Jankowski, left, was pretty amazed to find his police vehicle suffered no apparent damage after being struck at the intersection of Main and Center streets shortly after 1:30 p.m.

Officer Eric Dibble is handling the report on the accident.

The other vehicle suffered only a tweaked license plate. The other driver reportedly ran a red light.

A motor-vehicle accident, unknown injuries, is reported on Attica Road at the railroad underpass. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 12:35 a.m.: The roadway is reportedly blocked.

UPDATE 12:37 a.m.: There is said to be one patient just north of the accident scene.

There are live electrical wires down at 8 Edwards St. in the City of Batavia. City firefighters are responding. They were possibly torn down by a passing semi truck.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: The lines involved are for cable services. Time-Warner and Verizon are being notified.

"No hazard here and we're going to be clearing," says the chief.

A 19-year-old man is suffering from steam burns to his face and difficulty breathing following an accident involving an overheated vehicle on the Thruway. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding to mile marker 394. 9 in the eastbound lane. Radiator fluid burned him.

UPDATE 2:51 p.m.: Responders are advised that traffic is still backed up on the Thruway due to the camper rollover accident about an hour ago. The chief tells them to get on the south shoulder and "run the shoulder" to get to the burn victim.

UPDATE 3:11 p.m.: The patient is being transported to Erie County Medical Center.

An RV rollover accident is reported in the eastbound lanes of the Thruway at mile marker 392.5. Unknown injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 155 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on ground standby.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: There are six five patients and another Mercy unit is called to respond in high emergency mode. Mercy Flight is cancelled. A propane tank has been pulled off the camper by a bystander as a safety precaution. The accident site is on the shoulder of the roadway. Traffic police are requested.

UPDATE 2:03 p.m.: A third Mercy rig is responding.

UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: There are three children and two adults, all with minor injuries, who will be transported to the hospital for evaluation.

The quick action of residents on Broadway Road in Darien today may have helped keep a serious accident from turning tragic.

After a 23-year-old mother from Cheektowaga lost control of her car on Route 20, having it turn over multiple times before coming to rest on the front lawn of Debbie Pugilese, residents rushed to the aid of the victims.

One witness, who was driving east on Route 20, called 9-1-1 and then called his wife, Emily Toal, a registered nurse.  

Toal reached the scene before EMS personnel arrived.

"I'm an RN so I figured if I could help at all, I should," Toal said. "When I got here, I found a 6-year-old, faint pulses, faint breath sounds, and there was a 12-week-old on the ground and the mother was sitting with the 12-week-old. The mother was in shock. We got towels and tried to keep everybody warm before the shock set in. We tried to keep the 6-year-old's head stable until the EMTs got here."

Deputy Patrick Reeves was impressed by the response of the residents. He described several coming to the scene.

"The residents in the area and the witnesses helped us out tremendously until EMS arrived," Reeves said.

Steve Kidder, who lives next door to Pugilese, and like Pugilese saw the accident, said everybody pitched in to do what they could to help.

"I’m glad to have all these folks as my neighbors," Kidder said.

Both Kidder and Pugilese said they saw the silver Chevy Malibu heading west on Route 20 when the car, for an unknown reason, crossed into the eastbound lane, struck a guardrail and became airborne. The car then hit a ditch and became airborne again and rolled over. It flew over Pugilese's driveway, hit the ground and rolled again, coming to rest on the driver's side.

The 6-year-old girl was ejected.

"When I came down the woman was crawling from the car with an infant," Pugilese said.

State Police said the driver was Jelissa Jones. The names have the children have not been released.

The driver and the infant reportedly suffered cuts and abrasions.  

The condition of the 6-year-old is not currently available. The child was transported to Women's and Children's Hospital in Buffalo by Mercy Flight.

Responding to the scene along with the Sheriff's Office and State Police were Darien fire volunteers and Mercy EMS.

(Initial Report)

One person has been ejected in a rollover accident at 2456 Route 20. Darien Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. No others vehicles are involved.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: Mercy Flight out of Batavia is called.

UPDATE 4:32 p.m.: A second Mercy Flight helicopter out of Buffalo is called. The victims are an infant a girl about 4 or 5 years old in a car seat who was ejected from the vehicle, an infant who is semi-conscious, and their mother, who is conscious and alert and has lacerations.

UPDATE 4:48 p.m.: Traffic is being shut down at routes 20 and 98. Also, no westbound traffic will be permitted on Route 20.

UPDATE 5:07 p.m.: The baby and the little girl are both headed to Women's and Children's Hospital in Buffalo via the Mercy Flight helicopters. The mother was transported by ground ambulance to ECMC. The accident reportedly occurred when the vehicle was westbound on Route 20, coming out of Alexander, and when it reached of the crest of the hill it went out of control for unknown reasons. It hit a guardrail, flipped over, hit a ditch, flipped over again, ejecting a 6-year-old girl, and came to rest. The mother is said to have crawled from the wreckage carrying the 3-month-old baby in her arms.