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Parked truck's headlights prevented driver from seeing pedestrians on Roberts Road

By Howard B. Owens

A driver said the headlights from a DEC truck parked on Roberts Road, Basom, prevented him from clearly seeing a group of people standing along the roadside about an hour after sunset yesterday leading to an accident that injured six men.

All six men were standing along the road. One of them was a Department of Environmental Conservation officer who was checking on hunting licenses.

Injured where:

  • Gary D. Olson, 52, of Avon. He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.
  • David Swooper, 39, of Youngstown. He was transported to Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight.
  • Shawn C. Bailey, 22, of Lockport. He was transported to ECMC.
  • Charles R. Smith, 72, of Gasport. He was transported to ECMC.
  • Stephan C. Olay, 39, of Ransomville. He was transported to ECMC.
  • Patrick N. Green, 21, of Youngstown. He was transported to ECMC.

The driver, Erik Olsen, 55, of Roberts Road, Basom, was not injured.

Olsen was westbound on Roberts Road at 5:49 p.m. The DEC truck was parked facing east, in the westbound lane.

No citations were issued, according to the Sheriff's Office accident report, prepared by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Alabama Fire, Oakfield Ambulance, Mercy EMS and the Genesee County Office of Emergency Management assisted at the scene.

(Initial Report)

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