A motor-vehicle accident is reported on Lewiston Road, Route 77, at Salt Works Road, Alabama.
A truck is jackknifed and the roadway is blocked. Traffic is being shutdown in both directions.
Alabama fire responding.
Two truck drivers were cited today in connection with a 21-vehicle pile-up on the Thruway in Le Roy yesterday that hospitalized a state trooper.
Trooper Dominique Wilson sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the accident, which occurred at 2 p.m. in the eastbound lane of the Thruway near mile marker 382. Wilson remains hospitalized at Strong Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
Also injured were Michael L. Bushek, age 60, of Palmyra, and Edward F. Dejoy, age 55, of Hamburg. Both were treated and released at Strong.
Tractor-trailer drivers, Richard Magezi, 41, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Michael L. Lambert, 54, of Hartford, Conn., were ticketed for allegedly disobeying a traffic control device, speed not reasonable and prudent, following too closely, and driving across hazard markings.
The investigation revealed that 19 vehicles, including 16 passenger cars, one box truck and two tractor-trailers, were involved in the crash.
The preliminary investigation indicates that a tractor-trailer traveling eastbound lost control, jackknifed, and struck the rear of a Trooper Wilson’s troop car, pushing it out into the roadway where the patrol vehicle was then sideswiped by a second tractor-trailer.
There was a ban on tractor-trailer traffic on the Thruway at the time of the accident due to the winter storm passing through the area.
Le Roy fire, with Le Roy taking command, along Town of Batavia fire, and Bergen fire, and six ambulances from Genesee, Monroe and Livingston counties responded to the accident, which left the Thruway closed for several hours.
Top photo: submitted by a reader.
A car has struck a utility pole at Colby Road and Route 20, Darien.
There are no injuries but the pole and wires are down in the roadway.
Darien fire dispatched.
UPDATE 12:13 p.m.: Alexander fire police are going to shutdown traffic at Route 238.
UPDATE 12:22 p.m.: Truck traffic is being diverted onto Colby Road to Route 77. The pole will need to be replaced. It's supporting service to the house at that location.
UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: Roadway reopened. All Darien units back in service.
A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported on Bank Street Road near Cockram Road, Byron.
No word on injuries.
Byron fire and South Byron fire dispatched.
UPDATE 11:51 a.m.: Road conditions are not good, according to a first responder. Elba fire requeted to the scene to assist.
UPDATE 11:53 a.m.: The vehicle is off the road. All responding units from Byron and South Byron are parked at the side of the road. The road is not blocked. Elba can stand down. Mercy EMS on scene.
Twenty-one vehicles, including a State Police patrol vehicle, were involved in an accident that shutdown the Thruway through Le Roy this afternoon.
Injuries were reported but no details have been released.
Several people involved in the accident were transported by van to the Ontario Service Center where they were evaluated by Mercy medics and interviewed by Troopers.
Le Roy Fire, Town of Batavia Fire, with assistance from Caledonia and Monroe County, responded to the scene.
Top three photos released by State Police. Bottom two photos courtesy a reader. If you have photos to share of the accident, send them to howard@thebatavian.com
UPDATE: Reader submitted photo added below.
A multiple-vehicle accident is reported on the Thruway in Le Roy.
Le Roy Fire responding. Mutual aid requested from Town of Batavia.
A Le Roy chief asks a driver to bring a van in case shelter is needed for multiple people.
Two additional ambulances requested to the scene in case of multiple injuries.
UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: Caledonia requested to the scene.
UPDATE 2:22 p.m.: At least 15 vehicles involved, including tractor trailers. There are multiple injuries, including a truck driver with a head injury.
UPDATE 2:26 p.m.: At least six ambulances are required to the scene. Bergen requested to the scene.
UPDATE 2:29 p.m.: Eastbound traffic is being diverted off the Thruway at Batavia. Expect an influx of traffic into Batavia.
UPDATE 2:31 p.m.: A chief on scene wants to know ETA for an advanced life support ambulance. It is two or three minutes. The chief has given the ambulance driver instructions on how to get to the victims, who are at the front of the accident. "Don't worry. We'll make it happen," the driver tells the chief.
UPDATE 2:41 p.m.: Thruway being closed at Le Roy.
UPDATE 2:46 p.m.: A Caledonia crew requested to Le Roy fire hall to fill in.
UPDATE 3:03 p.m.: People involved in the accident who were not injured are being taken to the service center, where they can be kept warm and rest. Troopers will complete interviews with them there.
UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: Monroe County ambulances are being released from the scene.
UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: Multiple tractor-trailers can't up it up the hill on Route 20 east of Molasses Hill Road.
UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: The officer on scene wants to know if the hill can be salted. A snow plow is in route. "I've got trucks backed up as far as the eye can see down 20," the officer says.
UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: State Police, Troop T, are reporting 21 vehicles involved.
UPDATE 3:55 p.m.: A chief reports, "everyone is on the bus and the bus is on its way to the Ontario Service Center."
UPDATE 3:58 p.m.: All emergency units back in service. The Thruway is still being cleared of vehicles involved in the accident.
An accident with injuries involving multiple vehicles is reported in Le Roy at 6874 W. Main Road (Route 5), just east of Bater Road. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.
A motor-vehicle accident with injuries and blocking traffic is reported in Darien at 1632 Broadway Road (Route 20), east of Route 77. It's in front of Triple-C Truck and Gas Corp. Darien fire and ambulance are responding.
UPDATE 2:17 p.m. (by Howard): Traffic is tied up, reduced to one lane of travel, and so the tow truck is having a difficult time getting to the scene.
An ambulance is requested to a motor-vehicle accident at 3525 Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield, for the evaluation of a child involved in the accident.
Oakfield fire is on scene.
A two-car accident, with one car striking a utility pole, is reported at Transit Road and North Byron Road, Byron.
Power is reportedly out in the area.
No injuries are reported.
Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.
UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: Elba fire police requested to assist with traffic.
Batavia Oakfield Townline Road is being closed due to an accident that is blocking the roadway in both directions.
There are no injuries reported.
Oakfield Fire on scene.
A caller reports a hit-and-run accident on Kingsbury Avenue, Batavia.
A dark-colored Chevrolet Traverse reportedly struck a parked car.
The plate comes back to another address on Kingsbury.
Batavia PD responding.
A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Route 19 and Griswold Road, Le Roy.
Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.
UPDATE 8:10 a.m.: One vehicle off the road. One blocking.
UPDATE 8:29 a.m.: One engine can go back in service. One to remain on scene.
UPDATE 8:54 a.m.: Road is reopened. Le Roy back in service.
A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported on Pocock Road just south of Swamp Road, Bergen.
A caller reports the driver is out of the truck and going by personal vehicle to an area hospital.
Bergen fire and ambulance responding.
UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: The vehicle involved is a town highway truck.
UPDATE 2:48 p.m.: The snowplow is now upright. Pocock is still closed.
A one-vehicle rollover accident with injuries is reported at 5992 Knowlesville Road in Alabama. The location is between East Shelby and Roberts roads, just north of Oak Orchard Creek. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 2:55 p.m. (by Howard): Four people are out of the vehicle. One child has a hand injury.
A motor-vehicle accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 402.7 and it is blocking traffic. Unknown injuries. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: Mercy medics are on location at the accident are looking for assistance in blocking traffic. East Pembroke Fire Department is called to mile marker 395.5 on the westbound Thruway to provide this assistance.
UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: A fire chief requests all East Pembroke equipment to stand by in quarters.
UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: All available manpower of the East Pembroke Fire Department is requested to the fire hall.
A dump truck rollover accident with unknown injuries is reported on Route 33 near Ivison Road in Stafford. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 4:22 p.m.: This was a construction company dump truck towing a small trailer. Law enforcement says what caused the vehicle to veer off the roadway and rollover is unknown. Two patients were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No other vehicles were involved.
A personal injury accident involving two vehicles is reported at Route 77 and Judge Road. Smoke is coming from one of the vehicles. One is off the roadway, and a jackknifed tractor-trailer is partially blocking the roadway. Oakfield's rescue unit is asked to respond mutual aid to extricate one patient. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are also responding.
An evidentiary hearing that grew testy at times was held in Genesee County Court this afternoon in the case of Jennifer L. Serrano.
The 48-year-old who lives on Charles Street in Irving is charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter in the death of 18-year-old Connor Lynskey and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. She remains in jail on $100,000 bail or $200,000 bond.
It is alleged that in the early morning hours of Aug. 11 that an intoxicated Serrano struck and killed Lynskey, of Hinckley, on Sumner Road in Darien but didn't stop to help or call the police. Lynskey was reported missing that night after the Jason Aldean concert and officers patrolled the area, including Sumner Road, but nobody saw Lynskey or any evidence of an accident.
The next morning, Deputy Richard Schildwaster, checking Sumner Road, found debris in the roadway and when he got out of his vehicle and looked around, he found Lynskey's body in a ditch.
How Serrano first came to the attention of Sheriff's Deputy Robert Henning was part of the testimony given at what is known as a Huntley hearing to determine what will be admitted into evidence. It is believed that Henning encountered Serrano after the fatal hit-and-run had occurred.
Under questioning from District Attorney Lawrence Friedman, Henning said at 12:56 a.m. he was traveling northbound on Route 77 heading to the county jail with a male who had just been arraigned in Darien Town Court on a criminal mischief charge.
Henning said he noticed a white Jeep Wrangler backing out of a residential driveway and it was stationary on the eastside of the roadway.
Under questioning from one of two defense lawyers present, Henning later noted that when he spotted the Jeep he was traveling 55 to 60 miles an hour in a 55-mph zone. Traffic was moderate that evening, he said, due to the concert ending at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center not long before.
If Serrano's vehicle had stayed on the shoulder, he said he would have driven past her. But suddenly the Jeep pulled onto northbound 77 right in front of the deputy's vehicle and Henning said he had no reason to anticipate the Jeep's action and did not slow down.
Instead, he slammed on his brakes to avoid a collision and swerved into the southbound lane of 77, where "fortunately, no cars were coming."
Defense Attorney Frank LoTiempo asked if the soon-to-be-inmate in the backseat of the patrol vehicle was injured in the violent slamming on of brakes and if injuries were reported. Henning said he recalls some part of the arrestee "moving forward and some contact was made" with the divider between the front and rear seats, but no injuries were sustained, thus none reported.
"Were there skid marks?" LoTiempo asked.
"I didn't look," Henning said.
Upon further questioning, Henning noted that he took no pictures at the scene and could not recall which driveway the Jeep had backed out of.
LoTiempo asked that the name of the male in Young's custody at the time be determined and provided to the defense in case they decide to interview him about what he saw or heard.
Next, Henning said he turned on his emergency lights and pulled behind the Jeep, which pulled over after a couple hundred feet and stopped.
He said he approached the driver, whom he identified in court as Serrano, who sat in beige pants and an orange hoodie, shackled, at the defense table, her dark hair up in a coarse braid, reading glasses propped on her head. Serrano smiled a couple of times at three family members in the gallery; she largely seemed dazed during the hearing.
Henning said she had trooper stickers on her windows and he asked her about them, and she replied that some members of her family were retired from law enforcement.
The reason she was pulled over -- pulling out suddenly into traffic -- would have been simply a traffic violation -- moving from lane unsafely -- until Henning suspected Serrano was impaired. He said Serrano told him she was returning from the Silver Lake area and he observed she had bloodshot, glassy eyes, slurred speach and he detected the strong odor of alcohol on her breath.
He asked her to exit the vehicle and when she did she "misjudged the depth of the ground" and got off balance, but used the door to steady herself and was able to "stagger" to the rear of the vehicle by using it to "keep from swaying back and forth" while he talked with her.
Henning testified that he activated his body camera when he approached Serrano and that footage would also show Deputy Jenna Ferrando.
LoTiempo asked the deputy if he had the body cam on the entire time during his shift. Henning replied that he always had it on his person just not always on, but that it may have been on while he was at Darien Lake.
"She seemed fidgety, uncomfortable and nervous," Henning told Friedman.
"Did you ask her if she had something to drink?" Friedman asked.
"She said she had earlier in the day, then she said she had none," Henning said.
Once Henning knew Serrano was not going to be getting back into the Jeep to drive, a half hour to 40 minutes after encountering the defendant, her Miranda rights (to have an attorney, to not answer questions, etc.) were not read, Henning testified under questioning from LoTiempo. Yet the defense attorney said one of two DVDs entered into evidence today will show that Serrano says she asserts her right to say nothing and still the deputy talks with her about a Breathalyzer test.
LoTiempo said a "7-10-30" notice was filled out but nothing was noted about the deputy asking her about drinking.
Next up to testify was Deputy Ryan Young, who spoke about his assignment Aug. 12 -- to take two deputies to the Buffalo Airport so they could travel for training then go to 23 Opal Court in Amherst. That's where the defendant's sister Mary Brillhart lives. He was to make sure Serrano's Jeep, which was parked in the garage, stayed in the garage.
Young said he got there about 4:30 a.m. and waited three hours until Sheriff's Investigator Christopher Parker got there with a search warrant.
At about 7:25, Young, Investigator Parker and two officers from the Amherst Police Department converged at the property. Young said he approached the "man door" on the side of the garage, saw Serrano inside the garage and activated his body cam; he asked her to open the door, whereupon she opened the overhead garage door. Young said he saw that the damage to the Jeep was consistent with the damage specified in the hit-and-run report.
Parker, according to Young, asked Serrano if she knew why law enforcement was there.
"I imagine you found my (suicide) note at my house," Serrano replied.
After Serrano was arrested her Miranda rights were read to her.
Young testified that she subsequently asked him to retrieve reading glasses from the house for her and flip-flops from the Jeep, and when he got the latter, he found a bottle of clonazapam in plain view. Young drove her silently on a 40-minute ride to the Genesee County Jail. Once there, he asked her how many of the pills she had taken; "one" she said. "Not enough to overdose?" he asked. "No, that was the plan," Serrano replied.
Young told the court that he was concerned about what amount of the drug she had in her system because she was being processed into jail.
Sanchez asked if Serrano was asked questions after her Miranda rights were read.
Young testified that a few were, such as "How can I reach your sister?" "What is her (sister's) first name?" "Does she know what happened?" "Did you leave the note inside or outside your house?"
Sanchez raised issues about the "affirmative questions" Serrano had been asked while interacting with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office personnel. The DA objected and asked what "affirmative questions" were and said the questions speak for themselves and it is not for Deputy Young to classify them in a particular way because the defense asks him to. The judge sustained the objection.
Sanchez asked if Young's body cam was on the whole time that day.
"I recall that I turned the camera off when I went to use the bathroom," Young deadpanned.
The question of when the defense counsel "attaches" to Serrano was debated in this Huntley hearing. Was it at the time she retained attorney Michael Caffery for a misdemeanor DWI arraignment in Darien Town Court? Or was it after that DWI, or once the hit-and-run fatal were suspected of being connected to the arrest made by Henning when LoTiempo and Sanchez were hired?
The defense then called its sole witness, attorney Caffery, who testified he was retained for $500 and met with Serrano at the jail. After speaking with dispatch about damage to the Jeep, he thought there was more to the case than a misdemeanor DWI.
Caffery, Serrano and "a third party" -- a woman who had been a passenger in Serrano's vehicle -- subsequently met at the Tim Hortons in Derby (Erie County).
"What was said?" Friedman asked.
That prompted the defense to object because they specifically wanted to limit Caffery's testimony to the fact that he had been retained for the misdemeanor DWI and that there was property damage to the Jeep.
LoTiempo argued -- with hands on hips, then his right hand jabbing the air with the forefinger and pinkie sticking out belligerently -- that the conversation was covered by attorney-client privilege and therefore off limits for cross-examination.
Friedman rejected his assertion, saying that Caffery is a witness that he has the right to cross-examine and that the presence of a third party negates the attorney-client privilege argument.
Judge Zambito overruled the objection and called for the witness to answer the question. LoTiempo -- hanging his head toward the floor dejectedly as he sat sideways at the defense table, his fist in a knot -- reared up to renew his argument.
The heated scenario prompted the judge to call the lawyers into his chambers for a 10-minute recess.
It seemed to tax the victim's parents, who had sat throughout the proceedings with great poise along with three other adults in the front row.
The mother began to cry as she briefly exited the gallery, sobbing halfway down the aisle. She returned composed.
The issues of Caffery's attorney-client privilege and what was said at Tim Hortons were not revisited by Friedman after court resumed.
The case is next on the docket for 1:45 p.m. on March 13.
Previously:
An accident with minor injuries has been reported at Court and Ellicott streets, Batavia, involving a city plow.
City fire, Mercy EMS and City PD on scene.
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