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Mercy Flight transports injured person following accident on North Bergen Road

By Howard B. Owens

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Two people have been transported, including one by Mercy Flight, from the site of an accident involving a manure spreader and a van in the area of 6385 North Bergen Road, Byron.

The county's Crash Management Team is investigating the accident.

Byron and South Byron volunteer fire departments are on scene. Bergen's ambulance also responded.

One person was reportedly entrapped in a vehicle following the accident and extrication was required.

UPDATE Midnight: A work van with two male occupants rear-ended a manure spreader on North Bergen Road that was returning to the farm after working a nearby field.

The spreader was equipped with reflectors, said Byron Chief Robert Mruczek.

The driver and the passenger in the van were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, one by Mercy Flight.

A short extrication was required for one of the patients, Mruczek said.

The driver of the farm equipment was transported to UMMC for evaluation.

The manure spreader was barely damaged.

"It's a strong piece of machinery," Mruczek said. "It's very solid."

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident and the names of those involved have not yet been released.

Information and photos via Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

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tom hunt

I know this is basically a rural farming community. But farm implements need more than reflectors if they are going to be on the public roads after dark. I was totaled years ago at the corner of Griswold and RT237 by a eight wheeled Stieger tractor running at full speed North on 237 without lights right at daybreak. It was semi dark and I didn't see him as I pulled away from the stop sign. He T boned me on the passenger side totaling my new F150 truck. I was the one that got the ticket.

Feb 16, 2019, 6:42am Permalink
Roberta White

I agree. Whether I am doimg 25 or 70 mph... My headlights never catch the reflectors on these things. The weird arms on some of the equipment are not what most people are use to pulling up on... It can be confusing to see at first... Completely mess with your reaction or response. Reflectors on a massively expensive piece of equipment... C'mon.... We can put a blinker on there can't we? Make them use some running lights at all times.

Feb 16, 2019, 8:22pm Permalink
Daniel Norstrand

UPDATE: The passenger who was injured is in critical condition. A Guy from Bergen. Pretty sad when a set of magnetic tail lights can be had for $20. Totally negligent on the part of the farmer or employee if there were no lights affixed to the spreader.

Feb 17, 2019, 9:29am Permalink
Ed Glow

From the first article... "The spreader was equipped with reflectors, said Byron Chief Robert Mruczek."

From the updated article... "Byron Chief Chief Robert Mruczek said after the accident that the manure spreader had placards and lights on."

Any chance we'll ever see the results of the Crash Management team's official investigation Howard? I'm curious what information was given to the team by Chief Mruczek for the official police report. I noticed you didn't add quotation marks around his statements in either of the two articles you published and those two statements can paint quite a different picture.

Feb 18, 2019, 9:20am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The first article didn't mention lights. People assumed no lights even the article didn't say one way or another. I went back and listened to the interview to confirm what Chief Mruczek said.

Accident investigations like these typically take months to complete. I can get a copy with FOIL request but then that requires that I remember to make the FOIL request and a time it is likely to be ready.

Feb 18, 2019, 9:27am Permalink

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