Skip to main content

accident

Big wreck at Alleghany and Indian Falls roads

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Alleghany and Indian Falls roads. Mercy Flight is called but unavailable. Alleghany Road (Route 77) is blocked north and south. Traffic is also to be shut down at Little Falls, Gabbey Road and the Thruway exit.

Responders include Pembroke, East Pembroke, Indian Falls and Oakfield fire departments and Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: so far, on victim has been transported to UMMC and another to ECMC.

UPDATE 12:01 p.m. (by Howard):  Roads back open, fire departments back in service.

Parked truck's headlights prevented driver from seeing pedestrians on Roberts Road

By Howard B. Owens

A driver said the headlights from a DEC truck parked on Roberts Road, Basom, prevented him from clearly seeing a group of people standing along the roadside about an hour after sunset yesterday leading to an accident that injured six men.

All six men were standing along the road. One of them was a Department of Environmental Conservation officer who was checking on hunting licenses.

Injured where:

  • Gary D. Olson, 52, of Avon. He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.
  • David Swooper, 39, of Youngstown. He was transported to Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight.
  • Shawn C. Bailey, 22, of Lockport. He was transported to ECMC.
  • Charles R. Smith, 72, of Gasport. He was transported to ECMC.
  • Stephan C. Olay, 39, of Ransomville. He was transported to ECMC.
  • Patrick N. Green, 21, of Youngstown. He was transported to ECMC.

The driver, Erik Olsen, 55, of Roberts Road, Basom, was not injured.

Olsen was westbound on Roberts Road at 5:49 p.m. The DEC truck was parked facing east, in the westbound lane.

No citations were issued, according to the Sheriff's Office accident report, prepared by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Alabama Fire, Oakfield Ambulance, Mercy EMS and the Genesee County Office of Emergency Management assisted at the scene.

(Initial Report)

Multible ambulances, Mercy Flight respond to motor-vehicle accident on Roberts Road, Basom

By Howard B. Owens

Three ambulances have been requested to the scene of a motor-vehicle accident in the area of 1910 Roberts Road, Basom.

Mercy EMS and Oakfield's ambulance have been requested to the scene.

Mercy Flight is responding from Buffalo and Batavia.

Alabama Fire responding.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: First Mercy Flight ETA is four minutes. All victims are out of the vehicles. No extrication is required.

UPDATE 6:18 p.m.: One Mercy Flight is on the ground. The pilot of that of the first Mercy Flight has said a second landing zone needs to be established because Mercy Flight 7 sits closer to the ground and cannot land in the cornfield used for the first landing zone.

UPDATE 6:27 p.m.: Mercy Flight 7 on the ground.

UPDATE 6:39 p.m.: Mercy Flight 7 in the air. If the first Mercy Flight has left the scene, we missed the call.

UPDATE 6:46 p.m.: One flight headed to ECMC, the other to Strong.


View Larger Map

Alleged failure to yield blamed for accident on Lewiston Road

By Howard B. Owens

A car attempting to cross from the Rite Aid parking lot across Lewiston Road to the Tops parking lot was stuck by an other car in a minor-injury accident at 1:42 p.m., Thursday.

Cited for alleged failure to yield was Nancy L. Alfes, 64, of Darien-Alexander Townline Road, Darien Center.

Alfes was also reportedly injured, but not transported to a hospital.

The other driver, Helen W. Laird, 88, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, was not injured.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Lonnie Nati.

(initial report)

Tractor-trailer and car collide in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer and car collision is reported at routes 19 and 5 in Le Roy. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

The driver of the car is a woman who is six-months pregnant and she is complaining of abdominal pain. She has a 1-year-old infant with her.

Woman injured after car strikes tree

By Howard B. Owens

A driver from Wyoming County was injured Monday morning after her car slid off the roadway on Bethany Center Road near Paradise Road and struck a tree.

Karen J. Vanburen, 38, of Alwardt Road, Wyoming, was transported to UMMC with non-life threatening injuries.

The 6:40 a.m. accident was investigated by Deputy Brian Thompson.

No citations were issued.

Accident in Stafford on Sunday injured four people

By Howard B. Owens

Unsafe speed for roadway conditions is being blamed for an accident at 11:49 a.m., Sunday, that sent three people to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

The accident occurred on School and Byron roads in Stafford. At the time of the accident, responders on scene reported icy conditions and requested the town highway department respond to salt the road (Initial Report).

Cited was Collin M. Camp, 19, of 20 N. Spruce St., Batavia. Camp was among those injured in the accident.

Also insured was his passenger, Michael F. Sullivan.

A passenger in the second vehicle, Patricia Scheurlein, 71, was also taken to a hospital.

The driver, Thomas J. Scheurlein, 72, of 5881 Griswold Road, Stafford, was reportedly injured but not transported.

According to the report by Deputy Brian Thompson, Camp was southbound on Byron Road around a "reduced speed curve" near School Road. He failed to negotiate the curve, according to Thompson, traveled onto the shoulder of Byron Road before being hit head-on by Scheurlein's car.

Young woman says agreement reached with driver who allegedly hit her car

By Howard B. Owens

A driver who allegedly hit a young woman's car at Prole Road and Route 33, Stafford, on Oct. 10, has agreed to help pay for her new car, she said this morning.

Danielle Lovett, who used The Batavian to appeal to the community to help find the alleged hit-and-run driver, e-mailed us this morning and said the driver was apparently identified and he will pay her $500 deductible on her insurance. Her car was totalled in the accident, she said.

Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble confirmed that the Sheriff's Office arrested William Pitcher, 64, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia. He was charged on Oct. 24 with failure to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. 

Pitcher's car was apparently spotted by a reader parked at a local auto body shop within 20 minutes of the post going up on The Batavian and notified Lovett of the location.

Truck and car collide on Thruway

By Howard B. Owens

A tractor-trailer and another vehicle are reportedly involved in a traffic accident on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 394.1 in the westbound lane.

East Pembroke Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 10:51 p.m.: Everything's off the road. One minor injury. Responding units can proceed carefully.

Car crash blocks traffic on Ross Street

By Billie Owens

A two-car property damage accident, which is blocking the roadway, is reported at 288 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

City fire is responding.

UPDATE 8:35 p.m.: Mercy EMS is asked to respond in nonemergency mode to evaluate two children involved in the accident.

Tractor-trailer and car crash on Thruway at Pembroke exit

By Billie Owens

A car and tractor-trailer accident is reported on the Thruway, eastbound, at the Pembroke exit.

The tractor-trailer jacknifed and the car is underneath. But the car's driver is out and walking around. No injuries are reported.

The eastbound on-ramp lane is blocked and is shut down.

Indian Falls Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 11:28 a.m. (by Howard): The truck still wasn't cleared of the scene this morning. Kevin Switzer sent in this picture.

More weather-related accidents

By Billie Owens

Three cars got into an accident at 439 E. Main St. in Batavia. One is stuck in the roadway, two went into a ditch -- but one of those just managed to get out of it.

Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responded.

No injuries are reported.

In an another accident, one car crashed at the Oak Street turnabout. No injuries.

Fire police volunteer calls in alleged hit-and-run

By Howard B. Owens

A Fire Police volunteer called in an alleged hit-and-run accident somewhere in the vicinity of West Saile Drive and Bank Street Road.

The volunteer pursued the vehicle, described as a Chevy Blazer, and the Blazer stopped outside of the city on Bank Street Road in a church parking lot.

A Sheriff's Deputy is in route.

The volunteer says the Blazer suffered heavy front-end damage.

Hit-and-run accident reported on South Main near roundabout

By Howard B. Owens

A hit-and-run accident with injuries has been reported in the area of South Main and the roundabout, Batavia.

Police are on scene and Mercy EMS is arriving.

No description provided of the suspect vehicle.

UPDATE 5:24 p.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene. Still no description available on the suspect vehicle. It sounds like there might have been a total of three vehicles involved.

UPDATE 5:48 p.m.: It sounds like a Monte Carlo is being impounded.

Head-on collision on Byron Road

By Billie Owens

A two-car head-on collision with minor injuries is reported at 7980 Byron Road, near School Road, in Stafford.

Stafford fire and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 11:58 a.m.: Responders are urged to use caution on approach because of slippery road conditions.

UPDATE 12:01 p.m.: Byron ambulance is asked to respond to provide mutual aid to Stafford. Traffic is blocked in the northbound lane at Byron and School roads and traffic control is needed.

UPDATE 12:10 p.m.: Stafford has cancelled the assistance from Byron, which was en route and is now returning to quarters. Traffic is being blocked off at Bryon Road and the Prole Road extension.

UPDATE 12:22 p.m.: A fire official on scene calls for a snowplow to help clear the roadway. It's on the way.

Thruway blocked by tractor-trailer rollover at Batavia exit

By Howard B. Owens

A tractor-trailer has jackknifed and reportedly rolled over on the westbound Thruway at the Batavia exit.

Unknown injuries.

It's also not known yet what the tanker was hauling.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding. State Troopers are on scene.

UPDATE 11:32 a.m.: Tanker is carrying salt. There is some diesel fuel spill. The driver is out of the truck and walking around.

UPDATE 11:46 a.m. (Billie): The vehicle is carrying 78,000 pounds of granular salt. There is concern about the diesel fuel and they are working to absorb it with pads and sand. The driver is being transported to UMMC with complaints of back and neck pain and he has some minor abrasions. A pumper is requested from Oakfield to standby at the Batavia fire station. Traffic may be diverted to exit 47, Le Roy, but that hasn't been confirmed yet.

UPDATE 12:12 p.m.(Billie): After a "tug of war" with Thruway authorities about handling traffic in the aftermath of this accident, Batavia chief on scene says the Thruway supervisor insists on opening up traffic lanes and removing, or shifting, the emergency equipment. "We are packing up all of our equipment and we are leaving. It's all in the Thruway supervisor's hand." They opened the left lane to traffic, most firefighters have left, and those remaining are pulling onto the grass and staging in the right lane. A piece of equipment from Montgomery is en route to hoist the disabled tractor-tanker onto its wheels. The chief made sure the supervisor's name was written down "for the record."

UPDATE 12:25 p.m. (Billie): The Batavia chief says the Thruway supervisor is now directing traffic by himself standing behind his truck with a single amber light. "That's the extent of the traffic control here." All Town of Batavia units are back in service.

UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: Below, the current situation at the accident scene.

UPDATE 12:48 p.m. (Howard): We're hearing voices of two or three people talking about directing traffic on the Thruway. They're not using call signs, so we don't know who they are. It sounds like they're struggling with the traffic situation. They are trying to figure out how to position a truck ahead of the accident to get people to slow down. People do slow down, but then speed up again and then slam on their brakes just before the accident scene.

UPDATE 1:04 p.m.: One of those voices just said, "You've got about a 50-50 chance of getting somebody with their head up their ass."

UPDATE 1:19 p.m.: The truck has been slid completely onto the shoulder so neither lane is blocked. A voice just said it will be at least two hours before the truck is removed.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: A tow truck capable of getting the tanker upright and hauled away is expected on scene at 4:30 p.m.

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: Some time within the past 10 minutes, the scene finally cleared.

Photos from the Thruway web cam.

Two-car accident on Veterans Memorial Drive

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on Veterans Memorial Drive, near Walmart, in the Town of Batavia.

Mercy EMS and Batavia fire are responding.

UPDATE 6:23 p.m.: The actual address is 4133 Veterans Memorial Drive. A second ambulance is requested out of Oakfield.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: A 44-year-old woman who was a front passenger is being transported to UMMC complaining of sternum pain. There was air-bag deployment in the accident. Another woman is also being taken to that hospital complaining of pain in an arm and lower abdomen.

Authentically Local