An accident involving multiple vehicles, unknown injuries, is reported at 99 Jackson St. at the Red Apple Food Mart / Kwik Fill Gas Station. Mercy medics are on scene along with city firefighters.

UPDATE 10:23 p.m.: The driver of one of two vehicles involved fled the scene on foot and was subsequently located in Jackson Square in need of medical attention. A second ambulance went to that location. The driver of the other car had to be extricated. Howard at the scene says "It looks like they hit pretty hard."

UPDATE 11:16 p.m.: (Howard) At the time I left the scene, police officers had not yet pieced together the narrative of the accident. A witness said he was pumping gas when he heard a bang and looked up as saw a sedan hurtling toward the Kwik Fill station. The driver plowed through the snow and came to rest near the turn lane at Jackson and Ellicott. The witness said the airbags deployed and the driver seemed pretty incoherant. He said he helped the driver from the car and walked him over to the north side of Ellicott Street and sat him down on the curb. It was some time after that that the driver apparently decided to flee the scene. He was located later in Jackson Square and had a cut on his hand. The driver of the other car had a passenger.  The driver required extrication and appeared to be in a good deal of pain. The passenger was helped from the vehicle and stood for a moment before being placed on a stretcher.  The police will release more information once they have a better idea of what happened. The accident was reported as "multiple vehicles" at first because two or three cars stopped on Jackson because the drivers had witnessed the collision.

Chief Don Newton, East Pembroke Fire Department, received the Service Award for 2014, and Fire Training Officer James Gayton was named Firefighter of the Year Saturday night during the department's annual installation dinner.

Counting fire calls, accidents and EMS calls, East Pembroke went on 350 calls in 2014, up from the recent average year of about 300 calls.

The 2015 firematic officers as elected by members are: Newton, chief; Stephen Smelski, 1st assistant chief; Williams Torres Jr., 2nd assistant chief; Donald Newton Sr., firematic captain; Jose Santini, firematic lieutenant; Lori Ann Santini, EMS captain; Robert Yungfleisch, EMS lieutenant; Ray Schramm, fire police captain; Chris Bennett, fire police lieutenant; Gayton, training officer; Smelski, safety officer.

Candles were lit after the dinner in a memorial service to honor fallen first responders and members of the military.

Genesee County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger administered the oath of office for department and district officers.

Matthew A. Jurek, 26, of Pembroke, has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident, according to the Buffalo News.

Jurek was allegedly involved in an accident Saturday that claimed the life of Francis A. Meldrum Jr., 38, of Corfu, who was walking on Indian Falls Road in Newstead when he was struck by a vehicle.

A passerby found Meldrum's body in the roadway.

From the Buffalo News:

An unidentified passenger in the suspect’s pickup at the time of the hit-and-run is cooperating with investigators, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“After Jurek struck Mr. Meldrum with the vehicle he was operating, he fled from the scene and left Mr. Meldrum lying on the side of the road,” Erie County Undersheriff Mark Wipperman said in an afternoon news conference.

Jurek was reportedly with a group of people that night.

A vehicle crashed into a telephone pole and injuries are reported at 60 Clinton St. in the city. The pole snapped and wire are down. City fire, police and Mercy medics are responding. National Grid has been notified.

UPDATE 3:05 a.m.: The driver's injuries appear to be minor. The cause of the accident is under investigation. National Grid is on scene. 

UPDATE 3:08 a.m.: City fire is back in service.

A car has hit a tree in the area of 7022 Clinton Street Road, Bergen.

The driver is reportedly trapped and complaining of leg pain.

Bergen Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:06 p.m.: The initial caller has called back. The driver is no longer trapped in the vehicle. He is now in the caller's car, still complaining of leg pain.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at 234 Broadway Road, Darien. An adult and a young child may be injured. They are out of the vehicle. Darien fire is responding.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: Command requests Mercy medics to respond. The location is between Harlow and County Line roads.

A car versus pole accident is reported at 8056 Bank Street Road. Unknown injuries, but there is entrapment. Town of Batavia fire and Mercy medics are responding.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on Lewiston Road. Genesee County dispatch plotted the call locale as east of Knowlesville Road. Alabama fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: A responder on scene reports "a vehicle into the trees."

A motor-vehicle accident is reported, with unknown injuries, on the westbound I-490 near mile marker 2. Bergen fire is responding along with Le Roy fire and ambulance.

The driver of a pickup truck that plowed into the western entryway of Batavia's police headquarters did so intentionally, investigators say.

Charges are pending against Steven J. Mancuso-Haitz Jr., according to a statement released by BPD.

Mancuso-Haitz is identified by police as the man who drove a 1998 Chevrolet S10 pickup into the building at 2:57 p.m., Friday, causing damage to the doorway, but apparently not causing any structural damage.

The driver was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

No motive was given for Mancuso-Haitz to allegedly drive his truck into the building. Mancuso-Haitz has had prior local law enforcement contact, including an incident that led to this correction by The Batavian in 2011.

A working structure fire is reported at 102 S. Main St. in the Village of Oakfield. Oakfield fire is responding along with Town of Batavia and the city's Fast Team. East Pembroke is asked to fill in at Oakfield's hall.

UPDATE 9:51 p.m.: Fire police are requested to shut down traffic at Route 63 and Fisher Road, and in the Village at Route 63 and South Pearl Street.

UPDATE 9:59 p.m.: Elba's firefighting "Cascade" is called in.

UPDATE 10:25 p.m.: National Grid has been notified. Command reports the blaze is under control.

UPDATE 10:34 p.m.: One code enforcement officer is on scene and a second one is contacted to respond.

UPDATE 11:25 p.m.: Roadway being reopened.

In an effort to defeat Batavia's anticipated press in the Rotary Tournament championship game Thursday night, Dave Pero gave his girls a great plan -- quick passes down court to open shooters.

The Fighting Irish got a lot of open shot opportunities in the first half of the game. The part of the plan that didn't work is that too few baskets went through the hoop.

In the end, the Blue Devils prevailed in the defensive battle of rivals, 41-33.

"A game like this is great for us come sectional time," said Notre Dame Head Coach Dave Pero. "We're not going to see a team in our sectional bracket that presses like Batavia, so it's a great lesson we learned tonight of how to handle it."

Pero thought his team handled it pretty well, even mounting a bit of a comeback in the 4th quarter that had to make Batavia supporters a little nervous, but Batavia answered and held off the Fighting Irish charge to avenge defeats in the previous two Rotary tournaments.

"These guys hate me at practice, as hard as we run, but there's a reason," said Marty Hein, Batavia's head coach. "In the second half, and we don't turn the ball over any worse than we do in first half, but we seem to force more in the second half than anybody else. I think that gives us an edge."

Hein tightened his defense during half time, putting more pressure on Notre Dame at half court, which took away passing lanes and made it harder for offensive players to get behind his defenders. It created more turnovers.

Pero said his team was ready and primed for this game, but Batavia just did a little bit better.

"We had a great practice yesterday, perhaps one of the best practices we've had," Pero said. "Did we do a lot with the basketball? We did a little bit. We did a lot of talking. The girls were upbeat. They were responsive. When we got to the locker room upstairs, they were focused. When you get girls that are focused, a team like that, I don't care if they're boys or girls, win or lose, that's when you've got to give them credit for the way they prepared. They were awesome. They were ready for what they were going to give us, we just fell short. Next week is another week."

Hein said he and his team thought they were going to do a lot better.

"We're a little down, because we thought we should play better, myself included, but that's just a credit to them and their coach," Hein said.

Tiara Filbert, Batavia, was tournament MVP and scored 22 points Thursday. No other Blue Devil got into double figures. Essence Williams scored eight.

Shea Norton led Notre Dame with 10 points. Taylor DiMartino and Emma Francis each had eight.

(Filbert and Norton in the top photo)

To purchase prints, click here.

A truck reportedly struck the Batavia Police Station at 10 W. Main St. and a person is trapped inside the vehicle. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:04 p.m.: The driver is speaking with a police officer.

UPDATE: The male driver was not seriously injured. He was transported to a hospital outside of Genesee County.

More information in the video:

Joel Emerson delivering mail through the snow and bitter cold on Redfield Parkway.

Joe Caruso cleaning his driveway on North Spruce.

Also on North Spruce.

Craig Thurman on State Street.

Joseph Verssagi on Union while his neighbor Buck Oltman works with his own blower in the background.

The sun was out, the storm was gone, but snow was still blowing on Main Street.

A reader submitted this photo of a school bus reportedly stuck in the snow in the traffic circle at Batavia High School.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff has issued a travel advisory for all of Genesee County effective immediately and continuing until further notice. While travel in the county is not banned at this time, unnecessary travel is discouraged. Heavy, blowing and drifting snow is making roads slippery and limiting visibility. Several motor-vehicle accidents have been reported with numerous vehicles going off the road.

UPDATE: The travel advisory was lifted at 9:30 a.m.

The following players were honored for their 2014 season in the New York Sportswriters Association All-State awards.

• Dom Mogavero, linebacker, Batavia, First Team, Class B
• Tom Kelso, linebacker, LeRoy First Team Class C.
• Greg Mruczek, quarterback, Batavia, Second Team, Class B
• Mike McMullen, quarterback, Le Roy, Second Team, Class C
• Steele Truax, linebacker, Elba/Byron-Bergen, Second Team, Class C
• Honorable mentions in Class D: Josh Johnson, Notre Dame; Tyler Laird, Alexander; Zach Shivlock, Alexander; Allen Chatt, Oakfield-Alabama

UPDATED to include Tom Kelso. who was inadvertantly left out of the original post. Apologies to the Kelso family.

A car has reportedly hit a tree on Cole Road, Le Roy.

Injuries are reported.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

A car has reportedly hit a tree and there are unknown injuries at 3992 South Main Street Road, near Fairway Drive, Batavia.

Town of Batavia Fire and Alexander Fire's ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 6:11 a.m.: Law enforcement on scene reports no injuries. Alexander's ambulance is cancelled. Town of Batavia can hold all equipment in hall.

Closing and cancellations reported to us:

• "This is a message from the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District.  School will be closed today, Friday January 9th due to the weather. This closing includes all after-school and evening activities. Please note that this is our last built-in snow day of the school year. Our plan for makeup days will be distributed next week to allow you to adjust your calendars. Please stay warm and safe this weekend."
• Alexander Central School
• Attica Central School
• BOCES, Batavia campus
• Pavilion
• Pembroke
• Pembroke Family Medicine delayed opening until 10:30 a.m.
• Independent Living of Genesee Region is closed today.
• Notre Dame
• Lamb Family Medicine (Now Open)
• Bingo at St. Mary's
• Delayed opening for County Court and City Court
• Delayed opening to 10 a.m. for Dr. Basra
• The Women's Care Center in Batavia at 33 Chandler Ave.

E-mail closings and cancellations to howard@thebatavian.com