accident

Early morning fog is being blamed for a two-car crash on Route 33 near Fargo Road in Corfu that sent three people to the hospital.

At 5:30 a.m., Myron Chittenden, 81, of 735 Genesee St., Corfu, reportedly backed his truck out onto Route 33 and swung around onto the shoulder. It was very foggy outside. When Chittenden pulled out, Kenneth Warren, 26, of Crittenden, was driving eastbound on Route 33 and could not take evasive action quickly enough to avoid hitting Chittenden's truck.

Warren was driving a Dodge Ram pickup.

Chittenden and his passenger, Martin G. Pacer, 30, were taken to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Erie County. Warren was taken to ECMC.

Their injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

A Lancaster woman involved in a single-car crash Thursday in the Town of Batavia said she doesn't remember what happened prior to her car hitting a utility pole.

The woman suffered minor injuries but declined transport to the hospital.

Laura Butler Hughes, 22, of Cloverside Drive, Lancaster, was driving a 2005 Toyota sedan westbound on Route 33 near Sunset Terrace when her car crossed the roadway, went off the shoulder and hit a utility pole.

The accident occurred at 4:41 p.m.

Hughes reportedly told Sgt. Greg Walker that she only remembered seeing the pole as her car struck it.

No citations were issued.

Speed is being blamed for a truck-into-car accident on Route 77 in Pembroke at 7:11 p.m, Tuesday.

Hurt in the crash was 20-year-old Kyle A. Bilby of N. Pearl Street, Oakfield. Bilby was transported to UMMC with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the report by Deputy Kevin McCarthy, Bilby was driving a 2000 Ford sedan south on Route 77 at an "unsafe speed" when he attempted pass a semi-truck on the right.

Bilby apparently lost control of his car and hit the truck.

The truck was driven by Alfonza R. Smith, Jr., 30, of Seneca. His passenger was Joseph E. Johnson, 42. Neither Smith nor Johnson were injured.

While McCarthy's report says that Bilby was driving at an unsafe speed, it does not list any citations issued.

A Batavia man pulling a boat on a trailer through Morristown was involved in an accident that sent the other driver to the hospital with a minor injury.

Douglas C. Houseknecht, 35, of 3472 South Main St., stopped at an intersection in Morristown, according to a report on NorthCountryNow.com, and then proceeded while another car was about to enter the intersection.

A car driven by Joy M. Buckingham, 29, of 178 Clinton St., Gouverneur, struck Houseknecht's trailer and boat.

Buckingham needed to be extricated from her car and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of pain in her arm and hip.

Houseknecht was cited for allegedly failing to yield the right-of-way. Buckingham was cited for allegedly driving with a suspended registration.

A big boom truck has struck the overhead bridge westbound on Route 5, Main Street, in the Village of Le Roy.

"It took the boom right off," says a responder.

The boom is in the roadway, completely blocking traffic. Le Roy Fire has been dispatched to handle traffic and as a precaution.

The driver has unknown, if any, injuries.

UPDATE: Photo above was submitted by a reader.

An Alabama man was seriously injured in a single-car accident today when his car struck a tree on Sandhill Road, Basom.

Robert J. VanPelt, 22, was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC following the 1:40 p.m. accident.

While the accident remains under investigation, a Sheriff's Office release says alcohol may have been a contributing factor.

"Charges may be pending," according to the release.

VanPelt is being treated for multiple serious injuries.

VanPetl's passenger, Brandon Rueben (no age provided), also from Alabama, was taken by ground ambulance to ECMC. The Sheriff's Office describes his injuries as "non-life threatening."

VanPelt was driving a 1997 Buick north on Sandhill when he apparently failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the east side of the road. His car then traveled back across Sandhill and off the west shoulder, where hit struck an embankment and then a tree.

Responding to the scene were Deputy Lonnie Nati, Deputy Dana Richardson, Sgt. T.A. Sanfratello, Investigator Kris Kautz, Deputy Kevin McCarthy and Deputy Eric Seppela from the crash-management team. Assisting at the scene were Alabama, Indian Falls and Pembroke fire departments as well as Mercy EMS.

For our initial report, click here.

Mercy Flight is on stand by following a single-car accident in the area of 7605 Sandhill Road, Basom.

The car hit a tree. Injuries are reported.

Alabama Fire and Indian Falls are being dispatched along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 1:49 p.m.: Two Mercy Flight helicopters are being requested along with another Mercy EMS advance life support ambulance. One patient is reported unconscious. The landing zone is being set up at the corner of Hopkins and Sliker Roads. The first helicopter has a three-minute ETA.

UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: A fire engine needs to be positioned so the winch can be used to stabilize the vehicle.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: Second patient extricated.

UPDATE 2:16 p.m.: The second helicopter is coming from Buffalo. It has at least at 20 minute ETA yet.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: The second helicopter is being cancelled. The patient will be transported by ground ambulance.

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A Batavia woman was hurt in a two-vehicle accident at 1:35 p.m. Friday in Alabama.

The woman stopped the 2003 Toyota pickup she was driving at intersection of Townline Road and Maple Street Road when she was struck by another car that was behind her.

Cheryl A. Vagg, 53, of 110 Evans St., Batavia, was transported to UMMC by ground ambulance with back pain, according to Deputy Timothy Wescott, who investigated the accident.

The other driver, Susan J. Neamon, 46, of 2272 Thomas Road, Varysburg, was not injured.

Vagg's passenger, Keith W. Cadieux, 54, was not injured.

Neamon told Wescott she was "looking for oncoming traffic and must have rolled forward." Her 2009 Ford Sedan struck Vagg's truck, which was in front of her preparing to make a right-hand turn on Maple Street Road.

No citations were issued.

A car is reportedly in a ditch in the area of 8936 Lover's Lane Road, Corfu.

It's unknown if there are any injuries.

Corfu Fire and Mercy EMS have been dispatched.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: A chief reports that a tow is already in route. The driver has left the car and is reportedly walking north toward Main Road. Law enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: The driver has been located and is being returned to the scene. His only injury appears to be a minor cut on his arm.

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A small gray car reportedly hit a Mercy EMS ambulance that was parked at 103 Ross St., Batavia. The driver reportedly fled the scene.

The car will be missing a side-view mirror, knocked off in the accident. It was last seen heading east on East Main Street East Avenue

No further description is available. No injuries were reported.

Police are responding to take a report and look for the car.

UPDATE 10:10 a.m.: The car is likely a Chevy Cavalier.

The driver of a semi-truck temporarily got his rig hung up on a railroad crossing on Church Street in Le Roy. It is no longer blocking the tracks, where it completely tore off the crossing arm, which is now dangling from telephone wires above.

The big rig, out of Omaha, Nebraska, left the Southern Railroad extension with "very little left that is usable," according to the Le Roy police officer on the scene. The railroad has been notified and a rep is en route, with an ETA of about 20 minutes.

It's unknown whether a train will be traveling through there or not in the meanwhile.

No one was injured and no other vehicles were involved.

(UPDATE: 11:45 a.m.): Southern Railroad has issued a "stop and protect order" for the demolished crossing. Trains will be required to stop. Road flares are in place to alert people to the danger.

(UPDATE: 9:30 p.m.: Pedestrian Vaughn Hahn, 87, died at UMMC late this afternoon, according to State Police. The driver is identified as David Johnston, 55, of 96 W. Main St. , Le Roy. No charges have been filed, but there is a criminal investigation in progress. The State Police ask any witnesses to come forward and call 344-6200.)

A Stafford man who was struck by a car while standing on the shoulder of Main Street Road has a chance to live after emergency medical personnel began CPR as soon as they arrived at the accident scene.

When Mercy EMS first arrived, the man was reportedly not breathing and did not have a pulse. Mercy Flight was canceled, but moments later requested to return to the scene.

The victim's name has not been released, but State Police say he is in serious condition at UMMC.

"We're in the process of reconstructing the accident, but it appears at this time that the operator of the vehicle drifted onto the shoulder and struck the pedestrian who was standing on the shoulder for an unknown reason," said Sgt. Sam Taglienti.

The driver has not been identified. He was taken two hours after the accident to Stafford Town Court for further questioning, where a Trooper said no arraignment was planned at that time.

Neighbors said the victim lives alone and doesn't drive. He often waits on the shoulder of Route 5 for the bus. He is also described as a beekeeper.

Taglienti said it appeared the pedestrian was hit by the side of the car.

"It was more of a glancing rather than head-on type of collision with the pedestrian," Taglienti said.

The victim was likely transported by ground ambulance to UMMC rather than Mercy Flight because patients cannot be taken by air during active CPR procedures.

A male pedestrian is "down, off the road" after being struck by a motor vehicle on Main Street Road in Stafford. He is seriously injured. Mercy Flight was called, then cancelled, and now is back in service, ready to land.

Village of Le Roy, towns of Batavia and Stafford responding. Traffic control is under way.

UPDATE (11:56 a.m.): CPR is being performed on the victim.

UPDATE (12:07): The man, described as elderly, is being transported to UMMC via ambulance.

A car accident at the corner of Main Street and and Weber Avenue is reported in the Village of Oakfield. Two children are passengers and an ambulence is en route to evaluate their well being.

One person was injured when two cars collided at the intersection of routes 33 and 237 in Stafford this afternoon.

Sgt. Greg Walker's report says that a car was northbound on Route 237 at 12:41 p.m. and that it stopped at the stop sign, but then the driver allegedly proceeded across Route 33.

The second driver tried to avoid a collision, but the two cars hit on the shoulder of Route 33.

Injured was Ann C. Sewert, 53, of 8179 Prole Road Extension, Byron. She was driving a 2005 Toyota SUV on Route 33.

Sewert was taken by ground ambulance to UMMC with complaints of head and back pain.

The driver coming off of Route 237 is identified as Nicole A. Yeo, 23, of 1809 Saltvale Road, Warsaw.

Yeo was not injured in the crash. She was cited for alleged failure to yield right-of-way at a posted intersection.

An accident has been reported on the eastbound off-ramp, Exit 48, of the Thruway. There are apparently injuries.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire are responding.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: Pembroke fire chief reports one victim with a shoulder injury. The patient is trapped in the car, but extrication is not possible until traffic is under control.

A rollover motor-vehicle accident is reported westbound on the Thruway at mile marker 375.6. Le Roy Fire Department is responding along with Le Roy Ambulance.

UPDATE (8:52 p.m.): One of the persons involved in the accident is believed to have fled into the surrounding woods and law enforcement patrols have been notified.

UPDATE (9:15 p.m.): "They've got him cornered in a lot on the westside of the Thruway someplace," reports an officer to dispatch.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported in the parking lot of the newly reopened Pontillo's Pizzeria at 500 E. Main St. in Batavia.

UPDATE (by Howard): According to Officer Eric Hill, the driver of a car heading east down East Main Street began swerving in the street. A witness followed her from about 400 Towers. Just after passing Pontillo's, the driver allegedly lost control of her car and it jumped the curb, striking a car in the Pontillo's parking lot. The passenger was not injured, Hill said, but the driver was injured. No further details are available.

A motor-vehicle rollover accident with a victim trapped inside is reported on the Thruway, eastbound at mile marker 375.5. Le Roy and Bergen fire departments are responding.

According to authorities there are serious injuries and Mercy Flight is in the air.

UPDATE (4:17 p.m.): Traffic is backing up, and the proximity of a construction site is possibly adding to the congestion. Police are responding to handle traffic. Mercy Flight is expected in two to three minutes.

UPDATE (4:22 p.m.): There is no entrapment. Mercy Flight is landing in a field south of the incident. No number yet on how many people are involved.

UPDATE (4:42 p.m.): Emergency crews are clearing or have cleared the scene. Le Roy ambulance and fire, along with Bergen fire, are back in service. No other information is yet available.