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Driver charged with DWI after allegedly leaving the scene of an accident

By Howard B. Owens

A driver who reportedly fled the scene of a minor-injury accident on Route 98 at West Saile Drive at 4:15 p.m., Monday, was later located and charged with DWI.

The driver, Leann F. Bach, 57, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, was also cited for allegedly running a red light and failure to yield right of way.

Suffering a minor injury in the accident was Verna M. Oehler, 63.

Bach was reportedly driving westbound on West Saile Drive in a 2003 Chevy SUV when she allegedly failed to stop for the red light at Route 98.

Northbound on Route 98 was John E. Oehler, 62, of Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, with Verna as a passenger, in a 2003 Chevy pickup. 

Fabian S. Hernandez, 48, of Columbia Avenue, Batavia, was also on Route 98 in a 2005 Ford SUV.

Bach reportedly attempted to make a left turn onto Route 98 and struck Oehler's vehicle, pushing it into the SUV driven by Hernandez.

Hernandez had 10 passengers in his vehicle, but none of them were injured.

Bach then reportedly continued south on Route 98 and was located some time later.

No other citations or criminal charges were listed in the accident report.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Greg Walker.

(Initial report)

Jeff Allen

There must be a typo in the police report concerning the 2005 Ford SUV driven by Mr. Hernandez. The largest SUV Ford ever produced was the Expedition and it only seats 8. According to the report there were 11 people in that vehicle.

Dec 27, 2011, 3:43pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The designation in the report is a code for "suburban," but since that's confusing, my standard practice is to change it to SUV. Every accident report is either a sedan or a suburban. There is apparently no designation for a van.

Dec 27, 2011, 3:59pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

A Chevy Suburban is a 9 passenger vehicle at most. Unless you're just cramming people in it without regard for proper seatbelt usage.

Dec 27, 2011, 5:08pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

According to the law only minors are required to be wearing seat belts any further back than the driver/passenger row. Kere the highlights

Highlights of New York State's occupant restraint law:

•In the front seat, the driver and each passenger must wear a seat belt, one person per belt. The driver and front-seat passengers aged 16 or older can be fined up to $50 each for failure to buckle up.
•Every occupant, regardless of age or seating position, of a motor vehicle being operated by the holder of a Class-DJ Learner Permit, a Limited Class-DJ, or Class-DJ Driver License must be restrained by a safety restraint.
•Each passenger under age 16 must wear a seat belt or use an appropriate child safety restraint system. The restraint system must comply with the child height and weight recommendations determined by the manufacturer. Depending on the size of the child, the restraint system may be a safety seat or a booster seat used in combination with a lap and shoulder belt.
•The driver must make sure that each passenger under age 16 obeys the law. The driver can be fined $25 to $100 and receive three driver license penalty points for each violation.
•Seat belt use is not required in taxis or livery vehicles, emergency vehicles, 1964 or older vehicles, or by passengers in buses other than school buses (seat belt use may be required by the school district). Rural letter Carriers are also exempt while they are delivering mail.

Dec 29, 2011, 7:43am Permalink

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