Skip to main content

Fuel truck on Route 33, Bergen, rolls over on car trapping woman inside

By Howard B. Owens

UPDATED at 4:09 p.m. with information from State Police.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: Traffic now open in both directions.

Three cars and a truck hauling fuel oil were involved in an accident this morning on Route 33 at West Bergen Road.

The truck over turned and landed on a car, trapping a woman in the vehicle. By all accounts, the woman -- Rosalie Pacino, of Batavia -- was conscious and alert throughout the ordeal, though she was airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.

Initially, the fuel oil was described as a flowing freely from a broken spigot, but Bergen First Assistant Chief Jim Bridge described the fuel spill as only minor.

A hazmat unit was brought in to clean up the spill.

State Police investigators say that Robin F. Lewis, of Bergen, was stopped at the northbound stop sign on West Bergen Road. Mark Shaw, of Warsaw, was driving a 2006 KenWorth tractor-trailer westbound on Route 33. A 2006 Ford entered the intersection, attempted to make a left-hand turn and was struck by the truck.

The Ford then spun and struck a 2001 Ford driving by Audrey Waterman, of Bergen, which was stopped on Route 33 waiting to make a left-hand turn. The truck continued westbound, slid counter clockwise and struck a 2005 Subaru, driven by Pacino. Pacino was headed eastbound on 33. The truck rolled into a ditch trapping Pacino's car under the trailer.

Charges are pending.

Brandy Shot, of Bergen, witnessed the accident. She was driving on Route 33, heading to work in Batavia, two cars behind the accident and witnessed the entire incident.

She said a van with two girls in it was preparing to make a left hand turn on West Bergen Road and another car was making a left hand turn onto Route 33. The truck, westbound on Route 33, tried to slow and avoid the car, but hit it, spinning the car around 360 degrees. It struck the van with the two girls in it.

"When I saw those girls in the van, my heart just sank, because I'm a mother of two," Shot said. "I'm just so glad they were not even hurt at all."

The driver lost control of the truck. It jackknifed and overturned, landing on a passenger vehicle, pushing it off the road, Shot said.

When the driver got out of the truck, he found the car under his truck and told Shot that the woman in the car was conscious and alert and talking on her mobile phone.

The truck driver, according to Shot, suffered head lacerations.

The driver of the car that the truck initially hit was bleeding from her face, according to Shot.

Bridge said besides the woman airlifted by Mercy Flight, two people were transported to hospitals by ground ambulance.

Bergen Fire responded initially to the scene and units from Byron and South Byron were soon called for mutual aid. Also responding for mutual aid were Le Roy, Town of Batavia and Churchville. Pavilion responded to standby in Le Roy's hall. Genesee County Emergency Services, deputies from the Sheriff's Office as well as Mercy EMS and Bergen Ambulance were all on scene.

The accident is being investigated by Troop A of the State Police.

The scene is being cleared. The Bergen fire chief tell those remaining on scene, to "abandon their posts" because the State Police and the DEC are going to remove signs and barriers when that time comes. Jim's Service is still there.

(Initial Report)

More pictures after the jump:

Authentically Local