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Driver reportedly slumped over wheel before striking another car head on

By Howard B. Owens

A deputy dispatched at 1:43 p.m., Thursday, to a report of an erratic driver on Route 33 saw the driver slumped over the steering wheel just before his large SUV veered left and struck another car head on.

The driver of the car, Gladys E. Worthington, 79, of Woodside Drive, Bergen, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by ground ambulance.

Worthington reportedly pulled to the side of the road when she saw the deputy's patrol vehicle heading her way with emergency lights flashing. 

Deputy Nate Balduf was attempting to stop a Chevy Suburban driven by Raymond T. Buckner, 67, of Maplewood Avenue, Spencerport.

Buckner's SUV, headed westbound on Route 33 near Caswell Road, swerved across the eastbound lane and struck Worthington's stopped car head on.

Worthington's car flew back eastbound and came to rest about 120 yards from the point of impact.

A witness, a truck driver from Akron (who probably didn't give us his real name), described the collision as looking like "two dragons colliding in midair."

Worthington was conscious and alert following the accident and as she was transported to Strong. Her injuries are not believed to be serious.

Buckner was also transported to strong and did not sustain any life threatening injuries.

No information was released on what Buckner's medical condition might have been prior to the accident.

No citations were issued.

The accident investigation was completed by Balduf.

(Initial report)

Howard B. Owens

The police report has the names of the witnesses redacted, but I can see enough of both names to tell neither is spelled John Smith.

Dec 8, 2011, 9:45pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

That looks more like 120 feet. Why would the ambulance park more than half a football field away from the victim in the car? There are no firetrucks or hoses present so there's no apparent danger of fire. Also, I can't imagine the physics of impact required for a moving vehicle to strike another vehicle that is stationary causing it to move backwards that amount of distance (120 yards).

Dec 9, 2011, 11:27am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The point of impact is a good distance further up the road from where the SUV is standing.

I'm shooting from about 100 yards away with a telephoto lens, which optically compacts the distance between the vehicles you see in the picture.

I didn't measure -- but he car was pushed back an impressive distance.

Dec 9, 2011, 12:11pm Permalink

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