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accident

Collision in Darien, one car landed in the woods, unknown injuries

By Billie Owens

A two-car collision is reported in Darien at Broadway and Harlow roads. One of the vehicles went off the roadway and into the woods. Unknown injuries. Darien fire and EMS are responding.

UPDATE (By Howard) 1:34 p.m.: Two vehicles, not blocking, minor MVA with no injuries, a first-responder reports.

Driver suspected of hitting motorcyclist down in the road turns himself in

By Howard B. Owens

A 21-year-old Alden resident has identified himself to Sheriff's Office investigators as the driver of a car that struck a motorcyclist who was down in the roadway following a collision just before 9 p.m. on Friday in Corfu.

Alexander J. Wuerch has been charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in serious physical injury.

Investigators believe Wuerch was the driver of a 2012 Hyundai Tucson that struck Travis R. Hartloff, 26, of Attica.

Hartloff was driving a motorcycle southbound on Route 77 when a car ahead of him slowed to turn into an ice cream shop. Hartloff's bike reportedly struck the vehicle and Hartloff was thrown from the bike into the middle of the roadway.

Another southbound vehicle then struck Harloff causing serious physical injuries. He was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC where he is in critical condition.

Wuerch turned himself in at about 5 p.m. today.

The charge he's facing is a Class E felony. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

The incident remains under investigation.

Previously:

Accident with injuries, blocking traffic at Lewiston and Galloway roads, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at Lewiston and Galloway roads, Town of Batavia. It is blocking traffic. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: A second ambulance is called to the scene. A male driver complains of arm pain; a female driver complains of back pain.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: Command reports one lane of traffic is partially blocking traffic.

UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: Two flatbed tows are requested.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: One patient is being transported to UMMC. The town assignment is back in service.

Car vs. bicyclist accident, with injuries, reported on South Main Street, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A vehicle vs. bicyclist accident is reported at 3670 S. Main St., Batavia. There are injuries. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics.

The location is between Lovers Lane and Fairway Drive.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: Patient is denying EMS; assignment is back in service.

City police ask for public's help on information related to car-into-house accident yesterday on East Avenue

By Billie Owens

Regarding the car-into-house accident yesterday shortly before 8 p.m., City of Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch says:

"We have received several inquiries regarding an update from the car/house accident last evening at 20 East Ave. At this time the incident is still under investigation and no further info will be released.

"We are asking that if any member of the public has any information to contact our dispatch center at 345-6350, and ask to speak with a supervisor, or call the confidential tip line at 345-6370."

The chief said media will be updated with future developments as they become available.

Previous report: Car strikes house, East Ave closed

Car vs. pedestrian accident reported on Walnut Street in the city

By Billie Owens

 A car vs. pedestrian accident is reported at 21 Walnut St. The victim is breathing and alert, complaining of leg pain, according to a first responder on scene. City fire and Mercy medics are responding. The location is between South Main Street and Walnut Place.

Car strikes house, East Ave closed

By James Burns

A car struck a house at East Avenue and Hull Park, knocking out part of the foundation and causing a gas leak.

Batavia fire and Batavia PD responded and are waiting for National Fuel to come and shut off the gas to the house. There is a strong smell of natural gas in the area. 

All the residents have been evacuated; no one in the home was hurt. A resident was home upstairs, he said: "It sounded like a bomb went off." 

When he went outside to see what happened he could hear the gas leaking. He did not see the car that hit the house. The car left the scene and Batavia PD is currently searching for it.

East Avenue is shut down between Ross Street and Vine Street. 

UPDATE: Gas to home is shut off. Code enforcement is on scene and electricity is being turned off.

The car was located parked in adjacent Batavia Middle School lot after striking building. 

Deputies looking for 2012 Hyundai Tucson involved in hit-and-run accident in Corfu

By Howard B. Owens

Investigators believe the person driving a vehicle that ran over a motorcyclist down in the roadway on Route 77 in Corfu on Friday night was driving a 2012 Hyundai Tucson.

The photo is a stock image and not a photo of the actual vehicle.

The car may have sustained some front-end damage and probably has significant under-carriage damage. 

After striking the motorcyclist, the vehicle continued southbound on Route 77 before turning westbound on Route 33.

Travis R. Hartloff, 26, was transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC, where he remains in critical condition.

Hartloff was driving a 1983 Yamaha southbound behind a 2009 Honda Pilot and was unable to stop in time when the Pilot slowed to make a turn into an ice cream shop at about 9 p.m. After striking the vehicle, Hartloff was thrown from his motorcycle and he landed in the middle of the roadway.

He was run over by a third southbound vehicle, which is believed to the 2012 Hyundai Tucson.

Anybody with information that may assist in the case is asked to call the Sheriff's Office (585) 345-3000.

Pair of big rigs crash at Ellicott Street near Harvester

By Billie Owens

Two tractor-trailers collided in the area of Ellicott Street and Harvester Avenue in the city. Unknown injuries. One of the semis may be on fire. City fire, police and Mercy medics responding.

UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: A first responder says smoke is coming from under the hood of one of the trucks.

UPDATE 4:49 p.m.: Traffic will be redirected at Ellicott and Swan streets. Both rigs have Ontario, Canada plates.

UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: No injuries; small amount of fluids leaking -- hazmat response not needed, says command, adding that one lane of traffic remains open.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: Two heavy-duty tows will be needed; both trailers are fully loaded with cargo. One vehicle is out of its lane. It appears it was following too closely and either swerved to try and avoid the collision, or the impact of the collision pushed it into the other lane.

Car into pole and guardrail accident reported in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly hit a guardrail and pole on Stroh Road near Alexander Road in Alexander.

No other cars reportedly involved.

Unknown injuries.

Alexander fire dispatched along with the Alexander ambulance. No Mercy ambulance is available.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: No injuries. The vehicle is off the road. Alexander units can stay in quarters.

Motorist fails to stop after striking motorcyclist down in the roadway on Route 77

By Howard B. Owens

Investigators are looking for information on a vehicle that struck a motorcyclist who was down in the roadway last night on Alleghany Road in Pembroke following a collision involving another vehicle. 

The vehicle that struck the motorcyclist, believed to be a Hyundai sedan, fled the scene southbound.

Travis R. Hartloff, 26, of Attica, was seriously injured in the accident and transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC.

The initial investigation indicates that Hartloff was northbound on Route 77 just before 9 p.m. when a vehicle in front of him slowed down to make a right-hand turn into the parking lot of an ice cream shop.

His 1983 Yamaha motorcycle struck a 2009 Honda Pilot driven by Garrett A. Stevenson, 20, of Clarence. In the vehicle with Stevenson were Samantha P. Kolbert, 18, of Cheektowaga, and Hope E. Stevenson, 17, of Clarence. None of the occupants of the Pilot were injured.

After Hartloff's bike struck the Pilot, Hartloff was thrown from the bike and he fell in the middle of the roadway.

Anyone with information that might help identify the driver and the vehicle that struck Hartloff are asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at (585) 345-3000.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. 

The accident is being investigated by Sgt. Andrew Hale, Sgt. Jason Saile, Investigator Joseph Loftus, Deputy Kyle Krzemien, and Deputy Brock Cummins. 

Assisting at the scene were State Police, Corfu Fire Department, Pembroke Fire Department, and Mercy EMS.

(initial report)

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Rollover accident reported in Corfu

By Billie Owens

A rollover accident is reported at 8814 S. Lake Road, Corfu. The occupant is out of the vehicle. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. Mercy medics are called to the scene in non-emergency mode for evaluation of the driver.

The location is between Scribner and Cohocton roads.

UPDATE 2:28 a.m.: The accident site is in the 8900 block of South Lake Road. A first responder says it has resulted in "a large power outage" in the vicinity. An electrical power box is "shattered and the wires are coming out of it and loose," says command at the scene. National Grid will be notified.

Motorcyclist down in roadway after colliding with car on Alleghany Road in Corfu, roadway shut down

By Billie Owens

A motorcyclist is seriously injured and down in the roadway after a collision with a vehicle at 9114 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Mercy Flight is called to the scene, ETA three minutes. Corfu, Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy medics are responding.

The location is between Cohocton Road and "Corfu Plaza." Fire Police are asked to shut down the roadway at routes 5 and 77 and routes 5 and 33.

UPDATE 9:14 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne with the patient to Erie County Medical Center.

Driver says she wasn't paying attention leading to accident that caused pickup truck fire

By Howard B. Owens
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A driver whose pickup truck burst into flames following an accident on Route 33 in Stafford on Monday said she wasn't paying attention and failed to notice an uninvolved vehicle slowing down in her lane ahead of her so she hit the brakes and swerved left to avoid a rear-end collision.

Her eastbound 2019 Dodge pickup traveled off the south shoulder of the roadway and struck a signpost and then a culvert.

Possible citations are pending for Justine D. McWethy, 33, of Batavia.

McWethy was transported by ambulance to UMMC for evaluation.

The accident, which was reported at 12:37 p.m., was investigated by Deputy Travis Demuth.

There was a secondary accident on Clinton Street Road at Horseshoe Lake Road about 30 minutes later that sent two people to area hospitals for evaluation. The Sheriff's Office has not released that accident report.

BPD looking for anyone with info on pickup truck that struck bicyclist this morning

By Press Release

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is looking for anyone with information about a reported car / bicycle accident which occurred at East Main Street and Vine Street in the City of Batavia between approximately 8 and 8:30 a.m. today.

The bicyclist was struck by a pickup truck at that intersection and is being treated at UMMC.

Anyone who was in the area at that time and observed the accident is asked to contact Officer Peter Post at (585) 345-6350, the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370, or online here.

Attempted U-turn suspected cause of accident on Lewiston Road

By Howard B. Owens

One person was transported to an area hospital for evaluation after a two-car accident on Lewiston Road in Batavia at about 5 p.m. today.

The preliminary investigation, according to Sgt. Andrew Hale, indicates a man driving a pickup southbound on Lewiston Road pulled to the side of the road and then attempted a U-turn. A car following the pickup truck hit the truck broadside.

The driver of the truck was transported by Mercy EMS for evaluation. The driver of the passenger vehicle was not injured.

A written accident report has not yet been released by the Sheriff's Office.

Driver who hit bicycle on Veterans Memorial Drive gives rider $200 and leaves

By Howard B. Owens

A driver leaving the Country Max store on Veterans Memorial Drive late this afternoon was looking one way while a bicyclist was coming from the opposite direction and then the driver pressed the gas peddle.

The car struck the bicycle. 

According to Sgt. Andrew Hale, the driver stopped the car, got out, and checked on the condition of the bicycle rider, as he's required to do by law. The rider was fine. The driver pulled a wad of cash from his wallet, Hale said, and handed the rider $200 and said, "this is for your bicycle." He then got into his car and drove off.

A caller reported a hit-and-run pedestrian accident and Town of Batavia fire was dispatched and a Mercy ambulance called but the rider was uninjured and everybody went quickly back into service.

Video: Stafford fire responds to back-to-back incidents on Clinton Street Road

By Howard B. Owens
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First, there was a pickup truck accident with a car fire and just as Stafford fire had things under control at the first location on Clinton Street Road, an MVA with serious injuries was reported a quarter-mile away on Route 33 at the intersection with Horseshoe Lake Road.

It turned out there were no serious injuries in either accident.

But it was a hot, humid day for the volunteer firefighters, deputies, and medical personnel who responded to both incidents.

Previously: 

Crash reported at Clinton Street and Horseshoe Lake roads, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at the intersection of Clinton Street Road and Horseshoe Lake Road. Stafford fire, Mercy medics and Le Roy ambulance are responding along with law enforcement.

UPDATE 1:11 p.m.: Byron ambulance is called as the third ambulance in.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to shut down traffic at Route 33 and Seven Springs Road.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: Byron ambulance is transporting one patient to UMMC.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: A female in her 50s is being transported to UMMC of evaluation.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: This Stafford assignment leaving the scene and going to the prior accident site at 5470 Clinton Street Road for cleanup. The roadway at Route 33 and Seven Springs Road will remain closed for awhile.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: A third ambulance is leaving the scene and transporting a patient to a hospital in Buffalo.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: The roadway is reopened. 

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