indian falls

A fully involved car fire is reported on Route 77 in front of the Econo Lodge. That's located at 8493 Alleghany Road in Corfu.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire are responding.

UPDATE 5:52 p.m.: The driver is out of the vehicle and is OK.

A slew of vehicle accidents are reported back-to-back on Route 77, south of Indian Falls Road.

"I've got cars blowing through here, going into the ditches in front of me," says a frustrated fire chief.

There are numerous injuries. Multiple ambulances are called.

"We've got a mess here Batavia," says a responder.

Corfu Fire Department is called to shut down the Thruway interchange with Route 77. Alabama Fire Department is shutting down Akron Road at Route 77. Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are also responding.

The initial call was for a one-car rollover accident with minor injuries at 8155 Alleghany Road. The vehicle was on fire but that was quicky doused. The driver was said to have a minor injury.

Then, as if instantly, the pile-ups started.

"Like my brother says 'Welcome to the money store! Come on in and take what you want!'" says a responder.

State Troopers are on scene.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Two victims have neck injuries and a total of five people need to be transported. A fourth ambulance out of Akron is called. A separate accident scene, involving one vehicle, is called further south on Route 77 over the Thruway overpass. Five tow trucks are called to Route 77.

UPDATE 4:14 p.m.: Patients being transported out, tow trucks coming into the scene.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: Corfu back in service.

UPDATE 4:58 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls clearing. There is a report of another car off the road about a mile north of the scene.

Predictably, the weather is creating hazardous road conditions. There are at least four accidents now -- and cars have careened off the roads in several other places countywide.

One car is well off the road on the westbound 490 at the Bergen exit.

Another accident is reported on the Thruway at mile marker 399.9, eastbound. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responded. Air-bag deployment, no injuries.

Alabama Fire Department is responding to an accident on Alleghany Road, just south of Ham Road. Car, with heavy front-end damage, and a tractor-trailer.

Route 5 overpass of the Thruway. Driver only, no injuries, heavy front-end damage.

A rollover accident is reported on the Thruway at mile marker 399, westbound. There is possible entrapment. The availability of Mercy Flight is sought.

East Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on "in-air standby." A tanker is called to the scene. Everybody is out of the vehicle.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: Mercy Flight has been cancelled.

A car has struck a pole and the driver is still inside on Route 5, east of Route 77.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 6:38 p.m.: No injuries, according to a Sheriff's Deputy who is at the scene. All responding units told to go back in service.

A rollover motor-vehicle accident, unknown injuries, is reported on the Thruway in the westbound lanes near mile maker 400.6.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are called to the scene along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 3:53 a.m.: The driver is uninjured and is out of the vehicle. Mercy EMS is back in service. Pembroke fire is at the scene. Indian Falls is continuing in nonemergency mode. Responders are told to use caution on approach, presumably because of icy road conditions.

A structure fire is reported at 2583 Angling Road. It's between Read Road and Church Street. There is black smoke billowing from the corner of the house.

A firefighter on scene says there is heavy smoke coming from the rear of the residence.

Another says "Occupants and dog are out. It is involved."

East Pembroke and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding. An engine from Corfu is also requested.

UPDATE 12:24 p.m.: This East Pembroke fire has gone to a second alarm. Mercy medics are on scene. Corfu has called for an engine from Darien to stand in at Corfu's hall. A tanker from Indian Falls is requested. "It's starting to go fast -- everybody be careful because of the ice." But a bit later "The floor is gone. All interior firefighters are ordered out of the structure."

UPDATE 12:29 p.m.: Town of Batavia calls for an engine from Corfu to fill in at its station. Some units on scene are working to try and protect the garage.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Oakfield is called to fill in at Town of Batavia's fire hall. Despite the prior directive, and the collapse of the floor, firefighters are now on the second floor of the house working to put out the fire. National Grid is notified, no ETA given. A chief asks "Do we have a crew for the roof?"

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: The chief says "The fire's out. We're just trying to clean up in here. There aren't any hot spots." Also, a badly injured cat was found at the scene (presumably it has suffered burns). It is not known whose cat it is, if anyone's. It has been placed inside the garage and people from the animal shelter are on their way to get it and treat it. According to Sheriff's Deputy Brian Thompson, the fire started outside in a stairwell from unknown causes. A man and woman were asleep in their bedroom when the woman awoke and smelled something burning. By then, the fire had starting climbing the walls of the residence.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: The rescued cat did not apparently suffer from burns. Rather it experienced severe smoke inhalation and was heavily doused with water. It is one of three of the family's cats and is being taken to Batavia Animal Hospital on West Main Street Road. The other two cats remain unaccounted for.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m. (by Howard): Red Cross requested to the scene. Also, photo above of the red tabby that was rescued from the house. It was covered in water that had frozen and probably suffered from smoke inhalation, but was crying loudly as it was being carried here. The firefighter is taking the cat to a garage where it might be warmer. An Animal Control officer picked up the cat a short time later and took it to Batavia Animal Hospital.

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A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Alleghany and Indian Falls roads. Mercy Flight is called but unavailable. Alleghany Road (Route 77) is blocked north and south. Traffic is also to be shut down at Little Falls, Gabbey Road and the Thruway exit.

Responders include Pembroke, East Pembroke, Indian Falls and Oakfield fire departments and Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: so far, on victim has been transported to UMMC and another to ECMC.

UPDATE 12:01 p.m. (by Howard):  Roads back open, fire departments back in service.

A car has slammed into a pole at 2023 Route 5. The elderly male driver is injured and reportedly incoherant. The caller stated the car was being driven erratically before leaving the roadway and hitting the tree. So this accident may be due to medical reasons.

The location is between Cleveland and Indian Falls roads. The pole is said to be sheared at the base but it remains upright and nothing is blocking the roadway.

East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

A car-into-pole accident with minor injuries is reported in front of Kutter's Cheese, located at 857 Main Road in Corfu.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE (4:11 p.m.): The woman is reported to be uninjured. Mercy EMS is continuing in non-emergency mode. She told responders that she was trying to park her car when her vehicle struck the pole. The vehicle is damaged.

A three-car accident is reported at 7926 Alleghany Road, with unknown injuries. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS. It is at the intersection with Meiser Road and cars are blocking the roadway.

UPDATE (1:47 p.m.): The injuries are minor. The roadway is now open.

A four-car accident is reported on Indian Falls Road, with the road blocked.

The injuries are not believed to be serious.

Indian Falls, Pembroke and Mercy EMS are responding. The area is at the junction of Route 77.

A one-car accident with minor injuries is reported at 747 Main Road, between the Thruway and Lake Road, in Pembroke. There are two people involved and there was airbag deployment.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE (2:30 p.m.) The vehicle struck a telephone wire and tractor-trailers are striking it as they drive by. Verizon is being contacted. The occupants are being transported to UMMC for evaluation.

A minor-injury accident on the eastbound Thruway at mile-marker 400 is reported. Six people are involved.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS are responding. Darien fire is requested to respond to the Pembroke intersection exchange on the Thruway.

UPDATE (8:48 p.m.): There is one car off the road, no roll-over. Looks like a "back axel accident" with people suffering minor bruises.

UPDATE (8:51 p.m.): The individuals involved are all purportedly refusing medical evaluation/treatment.

A person in East Pembroke suffered a severe arm injury at a garage at 2452 Main Road. The victim is reported to be in and out of consciousness and bleeding severely.

Mercy Flight is responding and a landing zone is set up at the back of a nearby elementary school. East Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS are also responding. Town of Batavia is called to help with traffic control.

A chain reportedly broke, creating a "mechanical malfunction," resulting in the injury.

UPDATE (12:50 p.m.): Mercy flight has landed. Medics will have the patient there in a minute or so. The patient is now alert and oriented, with a severely injured, possibly fractured, arm.

UPDATE (1:05 p.m.): Mercy Flight is airborne, heading to Erie County Medical Center. All emergency responders are back in service.

A pile-up of seven vehicles is reported on the Thruway at mile marker 397.7 in the westbound lanes.

East Pembroke is responding along with Mercy EMS. Pembroke and Indian Falls and Darien are standing by in quarters.

Traffic is badly snarled and backed up. Cars are in the meridian and on the sides of the roadway. Multiple 9-1-1 calls have been received.

At least two injuries are reported so far and one person is trapped in a vehicle.

UPDATE (4:39 p.m.): East Pembroke units are back in service.

UPDATE (4:44 p.m.): Thruway traffic is moving again.

UPDATE (by Howard) 5:48 p.m.: Photos. Top photo, from Indian Falls Road. Bottom photo take at least five minutes after accident scene cleared, showing traffic still at a standstill past the Oak Street bridge (shown in the distance).

CORRECTION: This post originally contained information about Mercy Flight. Mercy Flight was never part of this incident. Mercy Flight was dispatched to the Stafford accident.

A vehicle is reported to have smashed into a parked vehicle at Route 77 and Cohocton Road. There are injuries in this rollover accident and Mercy Flight is on standby.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding.

The subjects involved are out of the vehicle.

A motor-vehicle rollover accident is reported on the Thruway, westbound at mile marker 403.5.

The vehicle is in the median. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE (2:58 p.m.): Mercy Flight is called. An engine from East Pembroke is called to stage the landing zone. More medics are called. There are serious injuries. Two young children are involved but are "walking around and seem to be OK."

UPDATE (3:02 p.m.): The westbound lanes are blocked to through traffic. Authorities are setting up the landing zone on the roadway. More manpower requested.

UPDATE (3:05 p.m.): Mercy Flight #6 is en route with a five-minute ETA. Mercy Flight #7 is on standby in Buffalo.

UPDATE (3:08 p.m.): Both Mercy Flights are traveling to the scene. The landing zone is ready.

UPDATE (3:23 p.m.): Both Mercy Flights are on the ground. Additional ambulance requested to proceed in emergency mode, and another from Erie County. Three children, ages 1, 6 and 7 are backboarded and collared, with cuts and bruises, and will be transported to the hospital by ambulance.

UPDATE (3:30 p.m.): Pembroke Fire command asks for hydration for the firefighters and others at the scene.

UPDATE (3:42 p.m.): The children are en route to Children's Hospital. The last ambulance requested was cancelled. Mercy Flights are in air. Roadway is to be opened back up ASAP.

Reader submitted photo.

A car fire is reported at mile marker 400 in the eastbound lanes of the Thruway. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire department are responding.

Responders on scene report flames showing.