accident

Sheriff's deputies are investigating an accident on Route 98 yesterday that may have begun as a rolling domestic argument and sent both the driver and his passenger to the hospital after the 2014 Chevy Cruze they were in struck a vacant house at 7889 Oak Orchard Road, Batavia.

Possible charges are pending.

Injured were Rodney J. Harmon Jr., of Elba, and Josette M. Harmon, also from Elba.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Harmon was driving the Cruze southbound on Route 98 at 3:16 p.m. when the car suddenly crossed the center line, crossed over the northbound lane, over the shoulder and into the yard of the vacant house before slamming into the structure.

The structure is owned by Offhaus Farms.

The Cruze sustained heavy front-end damage.

Rodney Harmon was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy EMS. Josette Harmon was taken first to UMMC by Mercy EMS and later transferred to Strong due to the nature of her injuries.

A conclusion on the cause of the crash is considered undetermined pending further investigation.

The investigation is being conducted by Sgt. Andrew Hale, Sgt. James Diehl, Deputy Travis DeMuth, Deputy Jeremy McClellan, and Deputy James Stack. Assisting at the scene were volunteers from the Town of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Emergency Management, and Dan's Tire and Auto Service.

(Initial Report)

Reader Submitted Photos.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported in Bergen at Clinton Street Road and South Lake Road (routes 33 and 19). Bergen Fire Department is responding along with an ambulance.

UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: Units responding can come in non-emergency mode.

A car crashed into a house at 7889 Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, and the driver is unconscious and smoke is pouring from the vehicle. Two Mercy rigs are dispatched and Town of Batavia Fire Department.

UPDATE 3:54 p.m.: This is being investigated as a possible "rolling domestic incident." A witness to the accident said they saw a southbound sedan suddenly jerk to the left, veer off the road, then strike a house (that is vacant and slated for demolition). A witness said that when they got to the crash site, a man, who appeared to be in his 40s, was the driver and he was arguing with a female passenger. No one was unconscious at any point. One of the vehicle's occupants was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital via ambulance and the other to UMMC. One person had a minor head injury; the other had an arm injury. The investigation continues. It has not been determined whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the accident.

A two-car accident with unknown injuries is reported in the area of 8331 Alleghany Road, Pembroke.

Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: No injuries.

There were no injuries in a three-vehicle accident at Bank and Main streets, Batavia, at 8 a.m.

Photos by Alex Feig, WBTA.

A tractor-trailer hauling Clorox failed to stop in time to avoid hitting another truck on Ellicott Street just north of Cedar Street, Batavia, at 6:37 p.m.

The load of the trailer shifted and some containers of Clorox broke open causing a spill of the chemical.

Firefighters used low-flow water pressure into the bed of the trailer, under the pallets to dilute and wash out the Clorox and then water on the street to dilute and wash away the bleach.

Firefighters also used absorbent to clean up engine fluids from the roadway.

No injuries were reported.

City fire and Batavia PD responded to the scene and the northbound lane was blocked for more than two hours.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at Route 20 and Asbury Road, Pavilion. It is blocking traffic. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A motor-vehicle accident with unknown injuries is reported at West Main Street Road and Kelsey Road, Batavia.

East Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:37 p.m.: A medic on scene reports two injuries. One may require an ALS (advanced life support) ambulance and the other BLS (basic life support). Traffic control is also needed. The westbound lane is blocked.

UPDATE 9:46 p.m.: Darien's ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 10:21 p.m.: East Pembroke assignment back in service.

A rollover accident, unknown injuries, is reported in the area of 9234 Warsaw Road, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

Le Roy PD arriving on scene.

UPDATE 10:31 a.m.: Law enforcement on scene reports one person stuck in the vehicle, uninjured.

A two-car accident is reported at 7484 W. Bergen Road, Bergen. There are injuries and it is blocking traffic. The location is in front of Bethel Baptist Church, between Gilbert and Lyman roads. Bergen Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A van vs. school bus accident is reported at 5018 Clinton Street Road. Mercy medics are requested to evaluate a minor injury. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

The location is between Terry Hills Drive and Stringham Drive.

Photos submitted by reader Seth Hollabaugh.

Shawn W. Cross, 48, of Le Roy, is identified as the man who suffered a severe head injury following an incident late Saturday afternoon in which he exited a moving vehicle on Lake Street in the Village of Le Roy. He remains in critical condition at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

The driver, Lorie A. Litolff, 57, of Craigie Street, Le Roy, is accused of leaving the scene of a serious injury accident, a felony.

She is also charged with DWI, failure to report an accident with injuries, driving without an ignition interlock device, and failure to submit to a breath test.

Litolff was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Several witnesses were interviewed and Le Roy police believe Litolff and the victim were engaged in a verbal argument prior to the man exiting the vehicle.

When he exited, according to witnesses, he lost his balance and fell, striking the pavement, which is the cause of at least some of Cross's injuries.

For previous coverage, click here.

For initial post, click here.

Our news partner WBTA contributed to this report.

A man has reportedly fallen out of a moving vehicle in the area of 78 Lake St., Le Roy, and may have suffered a head injury.

The vehicle he was believed to be in continued northbound on Route 19.

It's a maroon Jeep Liberty.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

Mercy Flight being put on ground standby.

UPDATE(S)(By Billie) 5:41 p.m.: Mercy Flight is at a field near the crash site preparing to transport the victim to a hospital.

UPDATE 6:03 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne; destination not known. The patient suffered severe head trauma and was in and out of consciousness at the time of transport.

UPDATE 6:29 p.m.: Le Roy Police Sgt. Emily McNamara said it is not known at this "very, very early stage of the investigation" how or why the victim exited a moving vehicle, or what speed the vehicle was going at the time. The speed limit on Route 19 in the village is 35 mph. The vehicle continued on without stopping. It is thought to a smaller, dark-colored SUV; the previous description of a maroon Jeep Liberty is not certain, nor is it ruled out. In fact, any witnesses of this incident are asked to call the Emergency Dispatch Center directly with information that might help the investigation at 343-5000. Although the victim's identity has been established, police are not yet releasing the name until they have contacted family members.

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported in the area of 8810 Morganville Road (Route 237) in Stafford. It is blocking traffic. Stafford Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. A first responder on scene says the occupant is conscious and alert and has facial injuries.

Mercy Flight in Batavia is on ground standby. The vehicle is said to have rolled over several times.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries and entrapment is reported at Route 237 and Cockram Road, Byron.

Traffic is blocked.

Dispatchers are checking the availability of Mercy Flight.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: Chief on scene, "negative on entrapment." Minor facial lacerations. No need for Mercy Flight.

A car. vs. tractor-trailer accident with minor injuries in reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 397. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A car vs. bicyclist accident in reported in the intersection of Washington Avenue and Willow Street. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported in the city at West Main Street and Woodrow Road. It is blocking traffic. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

A motor-vehicle rollover accident is reported in the area of 11025 S. Lake Road in Pavilion, just north of Route 63. The vehicle went into water; unknown injuries or how deep the water is.

The roads in the vicinity are "nothing but complete ice," says a first responder, adding that the Mercy unit approaching should use caution because it's so slippery.

Another one says "(Route) 20 is no better than 63."

Pavilion Fire Department is responding, along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 8:41 a.m.: Everyone is out of the vehicle and walking; injuries, if any, appear to be minor. The occupants are heading to a nearby residence.

UPDATE 8:42 a.m.: "No injuries." A deputy is going to stop at the residence to check on them.

UPDATE 8:43 a.m.: Mercy Flight had been contacted; then canceled.

UPDATE 8:44 a.m.: Mercy medics are to continue in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 8:56 a.m.: A deputy calls for a tow of the vehicle, which he says is an SUV, 10 feet down an embankment, partially submerged in water.

UPDATE 8:59 a.m.: Two trucks from Stella's towing service will be responding with a 15-minute ETA.

UPDATE 9:13 a.m.: Stella's two trucks are on scene.

A Pembroke-area resident, whose name has not yet been released by local law enforcement, was killed this afternoon in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer on Main Road near the county line.

The accident was reported at 3:06 p.m. in the area of 352 Main Road.

First responders reported a large debris field. Mercy Flight helicopters were put on ground standby but soon canceled after medics arrived on scene.

The driver of the tractor-trailer suffered minor injuries and was taken by Mercy EMS to UMMC for evaluation.

The driver of the SUV was westbound when it crossed the center line and struck the truck driver's-side-to-driver's-side. The SUV was heavily damaged in the accident.

Assistant Chief Ed Mileham, Indian Falls fire, said it was one of the worst accident scenes he's responded to in the 37 years he's been a volunteer firefighter.

UPDATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, March 15: The name of the driver killed in the crash is Wayne A. Striewing, 54, of Pembroke. Striewing was driving a 2017 Lexus NX2 westbound on Route 5 when the vehicle crossed the centerline, entering the eastbound lane. Investigators have yet to determine why Striewing's vehicle cross the centerline. The Lexus struck a 2016 Peterbilt tractor-trailer operated by Raymond L. Bennett, 56, of Winona, Mo. 

The crash is being investigated by Deputy James Stack, Deputy Kyle Krzemien, Sgt. Andrew Hale, Sgt. Jason Saile, Investigator Chris Parker, Investigator Chad Minuto, and Chief Deputy Joseph Graff. Assisting at the scene were the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, Department of Environmental Conservation, Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department, Indian Falls Volunteer Fire Department, East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department, Mercy EMS, and Coroner Jeff McIntyre.