accident

A car has reportedly hit a pole in the area of 8673 North Road, Le Roy.

Wires are down in the area.

There are possible minor injuries.

Le Roy fire dispatched.

UPDATE 12:57 a.m.: Fire police requested to shut down traffic at North Road and Hebbard Road. 

A two-car collision with injuries is reported at the intersection of Clinton Street Road and Westbrook Road, Stafford. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A driver was ticketed for alleged failure to yield the right of way leading to an accident at Lewiston and West Main, Batavia, at 3 p.m. yesterday.

Sharon J. Benty, 73, of Weber Avenue, Oakfield, told Deputy Mathew Clor, who wrote the accident reports, "I had a green light and I thought she would slow down when she saw me."

Benty, according to the report, was driving a 2013 Toyota sedan east on Route 5 when she attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Lewiston Road.

Anna Jane Molnar, 19, of Phelps Road, Corfu, was driving a 1997 Ford sedan was heading west on Route 5. 

According to Clor's report, Benty turned in front of Molnar, who had the right of way.

Benty, Molnar, and Molnar's passenger, 23-year-old Austin T. Geist, all suffered minor injuries and were transported to UMMC for evaluation.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS assisted at the scene.

(Initial Post)

A two-car accident with possibly minor injuries occurred a few minutes ago in front of Tops Market in Batavia, at Lewiston Road and West Main Street.

Town of Batavia Fire Department, law enforcement and Mercy medics responded.

A two-car accident is reported at Broadway Road (Route 20) and East Road, Bethany.

One caller reports one serious injury and everybody else is just shaken up.

Bethany fire, with the Bethany ambulance, along with Mercy EMS responding.

The road is blocked and Pavilion is requested to Texaco Town to shutdown traffic.

A one-vehicle accident happened about five hours ago on Little Falls Road and the driver is still in or with the vehicle, according to a caller to dispatch. The location is 1341 Little Falls Road, north of Fuller Road. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy medics just arrived on scene.

Little Falls Road is shut down.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: The patient -- the driver -- is being transported to ECMC.

UPDATE 7:59 a.m.: The road is reopended. The assignment is back in service.

Distracted driving is the suspected cause of a fatal accident at 12:15 this afternoon after a tan 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis sedan slammed into the side of a trailer being hauled by a semi-truck at Route 63 and Route 19 in Pavilion.

The 81-year-old driver of the sedan, Robert G. Daniels, of Warsaw, who deputies believe ran a red light, was pronounced dead at the scene by GC Coroner Tom Douglas.

The driver of the semi-truck, 69-year-old Michael D. Dunn, who had the right-of-way, was uninjured. He is from Prescott, Ontario, Canada, and was driving a 2019 International semi with an empty 2019 Manac trailer northbound on Route 63.

According to a Genesee County Sheriff's Office press release, the investigation continues as to the reason why Daniels failed to stop at the red traffic signal while he was traveling on southbound on Route 19. He struck the passenger side of the trailer.

The accident was investigated by GC Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth. Assisting at the scene were Sgt. Andrew Hale, Deputy Chris Erion, Investigator James Diehl, the GC Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team members Sgt. Jason Saile and Deputy Richard Schildwaster, Trooper Matt Luft with the NYSP Commerical Vehicle Enforcement Unit, amd members of the Town of Pavilion Fire Department.

Two vehicles and a tractor-trailer collided at Big Tree Road and South Lake Road (routes 63 and 19). One of the vehicles is lodged under the tractor-trailer. There are serious injuries and the roadway is blocked. Pavilion Fire Department is on scene along with mutual aid from Bethany. Mercy medics responding.

Law enforcement is shutting down multiple roadways: the intersection at Texaco Town; route 63 at GC county road 36, route 20 and route 19.

The State Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit is called to the scene.

UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: Due to demands on manpower following the accident, a Sheriff's supervisor is requesting at least two deputies scheduled to work the next shift to come in early.

UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: This is a fatal accident. Although the initial dispatch was for a tractor-trailer and two passenger vehicles involved, only one sedan was involved in the collision with the big rig, which is operated by Kriska Transportation Co. Roads are still closed in the vicinity.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: According to Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Saile, the tractor-trailer was northbound on Route 63 when a light-colored Mercury Grand Marquis was traveling southbound on Route 19 and failed to stop at a solid red light. The sedan plowed into, and under, the big rig and the male driver, the sole occupant, was deceased by the time first responders arrived. The trucker was not injured. Saile said there is no physical evidence of the sedan ever braking. The impact knocked the trailer into the southbound lane. It was empty. Parise's Auto & Towing was called in to lift the trailer off the car so the victim could be removed. Saile said distracted driving is suspected.

Video T/K.

UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: Just announced roadways are reopened and all responders are back in service.

A two-vehicle accident, with one vehicle in a ditch and one car blocking is reported at Alleghany Road and Sumner Road, Darien.

Darien fire and Darien ambulance responding.

There are six patients -- so far no serious injuries reported -- so two ambulances required.

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: Alexander fire's ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:49 p.m.: One patient is being transported to ECMC. One patient is a sign-off. Three are refusals.

A two-vehicle accident is reported at Main Road and Alleghany Road, Pembroke.

There are potentially as many as five patients and there is entrapment. 

Corfu fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 12:38 p.m.: Pembroke fire and Indian Falls fire also responding. The intersection is blocked.

UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: Injuries to the person trapped in the vehicle do not appear to be serious, according to a first responder on scene.

UPDATE 12:44 p.m.: Darien's ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:46 p.m.: A young child has bruises, abrasions and cuts.

UPDATE 12:58 p.m.: The patient has been extricated.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: The road has reopened.

Jennifer L. Serrano, 48, of Irving, was convicted this afternoon of vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting, driving while intoxicated, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle at the conclusion of her six-day trial.

After less than three hours of deliberation in Genesee County Court, jurors rendered a unanimous guilty verdict on all four counts.

Serrano stood trial for killing 18-year-old Connor Lynskey with her Jeep Wrangler last August as both individuals traveled along Sumner Road in Darien after a concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center.

The decision came shortly after the jury requested to review Deputy Robert Henning’s body camera footage, which captured Serrano participating in field sobriety tests and refusing an Alco-sensor test. This video appeared to be a deciding factor that helped refresh jurors' recollections of early evidence in the case and expedite their verdict.

Defense attorney Frank LoTempio spoke about his client’s disappointment upon receiving the verdict.

“We didn’t receive one decision in our favor," LoTempio said. "The cards were kind of stacked up against us. But, the jury rendered their verdict, and we live with that."

LoTempio said that the trial’s proximity to the July 4th holiday may have contributed to the quick verdict, and defense counsel may potentially appeal the case.

After his court victory, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman expressed his satisfaction with both the verdict and the case he presented to jurors. He commended the Lynskey family for seeking justice for Connor’s death.

“They’re strong people,” Friedman said of the Lynskeys. “They were here for every single court appearance no matter how minor it was. They made a six-hour round trip for every court appearance.”

“Even when the testimony or the evidence was certainly unpleasant for them, they were here," Friedman said. "I’m sure it was a very difficult thing, but it was obviously something that they needed to do. They got through it, and I’m sure that they’re glad that they were here."

Serrano faces a prison term of four and two-thirds to 14 years upon sentencing. Judge Charles Zambito adjourned the court awaiting Serrano’s sentencing at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 19 in Genesee County Court.

Top photo: The mother of Connor Lynskey, Donna, leaving court after the verdict, with Lawrence Friedman. Bottom photo, his father, Michael Lynskey. Photos by Lauren Leone.

A two-vehicle accident with minor injuries is reported in front of 401 W. Main St., Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman called two rebuttal witnesses this afternoon, who are both accident reconstructionists, to provide insight about the precise location of 18-year-old Connor Lynskey when he was struck by alleged drunk driver Jennifer Serrano last August in Darien.

Expert James Orr testified in order to explain his findings based on police photographs and investigation measurements from the accident scene. Orr’s rationale for the absence of tire marks in the gravel along the edge of Sumner Road is that gravel will not be disturbed unless sudden maneuvering or braking occurs.

A photograph of what is purported to be Lynskey’s footprint was revisited numerous times today in court. The image, according to Orr, depicts a heel print in the gravel and the top of the foot pivoting out of the frame. Orr said this pivot represents Lynskey’s right foot as the left side of his body rotates in the direction of the vehicle upon impact. Orr said no debris of any kind could make that type of mark. 

"Using the debris field that was found primarily on the shoulder, gravel and grass, jurors will determine whether Lynskey was positioned in the traffic lane or if Serrano’s vehicle left the roadway.

Orr said that debris in accident scene photos may indicate that broken pieces from the vehicle's exterior made contact with Lynskey’s body at the point of impact.

Defense attorney Frank LoTempio asked Orr how he could know the exact collision location if he had relied on photos taken by Genesee County Sheriff's Office Investigator Chris Parker, who admitted he could not recall the precise location of gravel disturbance. Orr remained confident in his assertion that Lynskey was located on the shoulder at the time of impact. 

Jon Northrup, the second expert who testified today, reviewed police measurements and photos, and calculated pedestrian formulas when conducting his investigation. Northrup extended the angle of Lynskey’s slide path back to the shoulder and edge of the road to estimate Lynskey’s position.

Northrup testified that Lynksey flew 12 feet in the air upon collision and slid 18 feet through vegetation, a total distance of 30 feet from strike to resting place. Northrup predicts that Serrano’s vehicle was driving on the shoulder approximately 2.5 feet off the edge of the road.

Northrup said Lynskey’s footprint and contact with the vehicle’s windshield are not consistent with Lynskey tripping into the path of Serrano’s Jeep. He said that Lynskey was upright when he was struck.

Northrup disagreed with Thomas C. Onions, an accident reconstructionist called by defense counsel, about his findings related to vehicle speed and visibility. Northrup claims Serrano's vehicle was traveling faster than 37.5 miles per hour and its headlight visibility was over 150 feet.

Orr and Northrup agreed that photo evidence from the accident scene that was collected by investigators could have been more conclusive had they made better photographs of the alleged footprint and debris field. They said accident reconstruction experts are trained to observe evidence that officers may not look for. 

Orr and Northrup each conceded there is no way to determine the precise vehicle speed or location of Lynskey upon impact because pedestrian calculations are only accurate for full-body hits, not partial strikes. 

Serrano is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it, driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Jurors will be informed of the legal specifications of each of the four counts tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Genesee County Court.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman and defense attorney Frank LoTempio faced off during oral arguments this morning over the admission of rebuttal witness testimony during the trial of alleged drunk driver Jennifer Serrano. 

Friedman intends to call accident reconstructionists James Orr and Jon Northrup to testify to their perspectives of the location of a deadly impact between Serrano’s vehicle and 18-year-old pedestrian Connor Lynskey. Serrano and Lynskey were both traveling along Sumner Road after a concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center last August at the time of the collision.

Friedman argued that evidence introduced earlier in the trial will yield different interpretations from those offered by witnesses such as Sgt. Jason Saile and Thomas C. Onions, an accident reconstruction expert.

The three main topics of debate are the speed of Serrano’s vehicle, the visibility on Sumner Road, and the location of vehicle-pedestrian impact. The rebuttal witnesses are also expected to weigh in on a photograph of what is purported to be Lynksey’s footprint in the gravel shoulder of the road.

LoTempio said that the district attorney failed to present Orr and Northrup as witnesses in a timely manner when he filed a motion for demand of discovery months ago. The discovery demand allows the People and the defendant to get an idea of the evidence that will be used against them during the trial.

LoTempio also claimed that the People’s rebuttal witnesses would be prejudicial to Serrano because defense expert Onions may not have the opportunity to respond to the alternate interpretations since he is currently out of the area.

During banter between Friedman and LoTempio, LoTempio let out an incredulous laugh when Friedman countered his arguments about mistrial, discovery demand and rebuttal witnesses. 

LoTempio said that the location of the impact is an element of causation that jurors should consider in their deliberations since Serrano is charged with vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it, driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Judge Charles Zambito said that knowing the exact location of Lynskey at the time he was struck is not necessary for the jury to reach its verdict. After a recess, Zambito rendered the decision that the defense’s motion for a mistrial is denied and that it will be appropriate for the People to rebut with expert testimony from Orr and Northrup. 

The fifth day of the Serrano trial continues this afternoon in Genesee County Court.

A truck driver with 40,000 pounds in beets in his trailer thought he could make it under a railroad overpass on Griswold Road at 8:30 this morning.

According to Deputy Chris Erion, the driver was following GPS but the address he was going to was the billing address on the manifest, not the shipping address, which is on Transit Road.

Griswold was closed for several hours as a result of the accident.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Griswold Road has reopened.

(Initial Report)

A truck reportedly tried to go under the railroad bridge in the area of 5757 Griswold Road, Stafford, struck the bridge, and is now stuck.

Law enforcement is on scene.

A motor vehicle accident, possibly with injuries, is reported on Warboys Road, Byron.

Two cars are involved.

Byron and South Byron fire departments responding.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: There are no injuries, medic response canceled. 

A four-wheeler accident is reported at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, at the race track, in Batavia.

The patient reportedly hit her head and is pregnant. 

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding.

A car and motorcycle accident is reported at Route 98 and West Saile Drive.

No word on injuries.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: Town of Batavia units can hold in quarters.

A three-car accident with injuries that is blocking traffic is reported at Bloomingdale Road and Tesnow Road, Alabama. One person is reported to have a possible broken leg; another person is unconscious. Alabama Fire Department, Mercy medics and law enforcement are responding.

UPDATE 3:24 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 in Batavia is on ground standby.

UPDATE 3:29 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene. A landing zone will be set up in a cornfield on the southeast corner of Tesnow and Bloomingdale roads. Scene commander says there's one patient, and two vehicles involved. The male patient has been extricated and CPR is in progress. This was a T-bone accident. Pembroke's rescue unit is called to provide mutual aid and so is Akron.

UPDATE 3:35 p.m.: Law enforcement is not on scene yet; traffic control is needed from fire police, says the chief in charge.

UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: A female involved in the accident is being transported by ambulance to UMMC with a possible broken right forearm.

UPDATE (by Howard) 4:12 p.m.: Mercy Flight is in the air.

UPDATE 6:02 p.m.: According to Chief Deputy Brian Frieday, a 78-year-old male died at the scene after a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old boy. A pickup truck and SUV collided. The 17-year-old's pickup apparently swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic and struck an eastbound SUV after attempting to avoid another vehicle. (Update via Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. Photos via Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.)

UPDATE: Leroy N. George, 79, of Alabama, died as a result of his injuries sustained in this accident. The driver of the other vehicle was Matthew S. Murzynowski, 17, of Akron, who was transported to Millard Filmore Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. George was pronounced dead at the scene.  The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The investigation is being conducted by Chief Deputy Brian Frieday, Sgt. Jason Saile, Sgt. Andrew Hale, Investigator Chad Minuto, Deputy Travis DeMuth, and Deputy Joshua Bradon. Assisting at the scene were members of Emergency Management, the Coroner's Office, Mercy EMS, Alabama fire, Akron fire, and Indian Falls fire.