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Weather conditions causing havoc on the roads

By Billie Owens

The snowy weather, predictably, is causing slick road conditions and the result is lots of accidents countywide. Most of them are vehicles that have skidded off the roadway.

Dispatchers, law enforcement, fire units and tow companies are swamped handling one accident after another. When we have information on them we'll update this post accordingly.

  • There's a semi-truck off the roadway, no injuries, on Route 5 near Kutter's Cheese Factory. State police and a rep from the Department of Transportation are on scene. It's a full-size rig with an extended cab carrying more than 40,000 pounds of goods. The truck is in the ditch, the cargo carrier is still on the roadway.
  • A car crashed into a tree at 215 Bloomingdale Road and one person is injured. Alabama fire is responding, but there is difficulty accessing the scene because a previous accident at 944 Bloomingdale Road is blocking the roadway.
  • There's a property damage accident at 7618 Sand Hill Road.
  • A burgundy-colored van is in a ditch, east of Gordon Road, unknown if people are still inside.
  • A pickup truck and car have collided at 670 Broadway in Darien. No injuries.
  • A silver Chrysler sedan is off on the east shoulder at Route 77 and Indian Falls Road.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.:

  • Stafford fire is responding to a one-vehicle rollover accident at 6170 Clinton St. Road. No injuries reported. UPDATE (11:38 a.m.): It appears this was not a rollover, just that the vehicle was off the roadway. Stafford is standing down.

UPDATE 11:32 a.m.:

  • An accident is reported at Bank and North streets in the City of Batavia.
  • Accident at 6888 Alleghany Road.
  • Accident at 7797 Lewiston Road in the Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 11:40 a.m.:

  • There's a two-vehicle accident on Route 98 at the Orleans and Genesee countyline.

UPDATE 11:45 a.m.:

  • There are two separate accidents on Lake Road in Le Roy. One is at Lake and 19 Vallance Road in which a car slid off the roadway. The other is at Lake and Parmelee Road for a car that struck a guardrail.

UPDATE 12:08 p.m.:

  • A motor-vehicle accident, no injuries, is reported at Lewiston and Lockport roads. A utility pole is down, blocking, and people are urged to use caution. Alabama fire is responding.
  • A tractor-trailer is stuck in the "S curve" of the roadway behind Wendy's by the Tonawonda Valley Federal Credit Union. City fire is responding and the incident was clogging traffic.
  • A head-on collision of two vehicles has resulted in two minor head injuries at 5680 Main Road in Stafford. Stafford fire and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 12:20 p.m.:

  • Dispatch says "People are off the road left and right. We've got a lot of pendings." An official responds that at this point, they're just going to have to divvy up the responses based on whether there are injuries or dangers present. Thus, the unfortunates who've simply slid off the road may have to wait longer for help to arrive.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.:

  • There's a motor-vehicle accident with injuries, blocking the roadway, at 7350 Byron Road near "the Oxbow." Bryon and South Byron fire are responding. There are said to be no Mercy EMS units to handle the call.
  • There's a three-car collision at Veterans Memorial Drive and Lewiston Road. They are by the Auto Zone store.

UPDATE 1:06 p.m.:

  • A rollover accident with injuries, with a persons(s) still trapped inside on 10129 Seward Road, in Alexander, between Stannard and Spring roads. (UPDATE 1:12 p.m.): This is a one-vehicle accident. The driver is out now and may have an ankle injury. Law enforcement is en route, along with a fire unit and an ambulance.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.:

  • Wyoming County requests that Darien Fire Department shut down all southbound traffic at routes 77 and 20. Apparently this stems from a road blockage at Route 77 and Church Road where a tractor-trailer is stuck and "can't make it up the hill."

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.:

  • Peaviner Road in Alexander is closed due to flooding.

UPDATE 3:02 p.m.:

  • Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are called to 1118 Akron Road, Pembroke, for a report of wires down in the roadway. The type of wires is unknown. (UPDATE 3:06 p.m.) The fire units are back in service. It was a cable wire and it has been removed from the roadway.
Bob Rathenburgh

This is exactly why i hope and pray our first few snow falls are only a dusting to an inch to give drivers the practice they need. I pray everyone on the roads today makes it home safely (even if you have to drive 10MPH to be safe then do it.)If you do not need to go out today then dont, i know im staying in. Fingers crossed my loved ones all make it home safe though. It is literally a white out in attica right now, i cannot see 10 feet out the window, and we have about 4 inches already (an this is just since 8:30 am) its coming down people. Just because YOU know how to drive in this doesnt mean that person coming towards you or behind you does so be prepared in all direction. GOOD LUCK to all those one the roads today!

Dec 1, 2010, 11:36am Permalink
Billie Owens

Amen Bob. My storage unit's door was stuck for a week so I was late in accessing my snow tires. My car will be ready later today but I have to go to Le Roy to get it and I live in the city. I'm not confidant of my winter driving, so I'll be going really slow in my little silver Scion.

Dec 1, 2010, 11:55am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

I don't understand the illogical logic that people forget how to drive in the winter. In 32 years of driving, I can't say as I've ever forgotten how drive in any weather condition.

I believe that it's more of a matter of "some people just can't drive." Examples: Drivers riding their brakes, driving with 2 feet even though they're in an automatic vehicle, tailgating, going too fast for conditions regardless of the season, changing lanes without signaling..etc.

Watch other drivers sometime and you'll find that a lot of them just stare straight ahead. They don't look side to side or in their rear view/side view mirrors. They just want their vehicle to go where they're looking and to heck with whatever anyone else around them is doing.

Dec 1, 2010, 12:19pm Permalink
joseph bradt

•A tractor-trailer is stuck in the "S curve" of the roadway behind Wendy's by the Tonawonda Valley Federal Credit Union. City fire is responding and the incident was clogging traffic.

First accident that made me smile... That's a dumb move on the drivers part, snow or no snow!

Dec 1, 2010, 12:23pm Permalink
Kim Grant

I was also hoping for a few dustings to get the feel of snow again. I have a 45 minute drive on a good day and am not looking forward to the drive home.

Dec 1, 2010, 12:30pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Living in Ithaca before moving here it was always fun the first snowfalls. This is the time you really need defensive driving skills.

Back then we had probably 22,000 sudents that moved in in Sept in Ithaca and they feel so confident having 4 wheel drive and suv's and such. Problem is 4 wheel drive doesnt do squat on ice or anywhere your wheels arent actually contacting road surfaces. Not to mention old all seasons and not having snow tires on yet makes traction even worse. Common sense LOL.

Watch you backs, fronts and sides today and take it easy, if you have some jerk tailgating then put your 4 ways on and pull to the side and let them pass. I guarantee you'll be able to wave at them later on up the road.
Be safe people and enjoy the snow

Dec 1, 2010, 12:32pm Permalink
Bob Rathenburgh

Good Point Kyle, I do the same with the 4 ways and pull to the side when i have someone tailgating me. Very unsafe thing to do. With visability so poor in certain areas its even more risky. I have had a deer run out in front of me when someone was right on my butt and almost got smashed into. Lesson learned - pull over - use caution - let them pass. It doesnt matter if you have an automatic, front wheel - rear wheel or 4 wheel drive. ALL vehicals can get into accidents if the driver is being unsafe.. and even so, ive seen alot of people who were just plain scared to be driving get into accidents so if it isnt something you think you should be in just dont do it, you're risking your life and others as well. Just call in.. losing a life or getting hurt or ruining your car isnt worth whatever needs to be done that day.

Dec 1, 2010, 1:00pm Permalink
Bob Price

Glad I switched to my snow tires last night-wasn't too fun last week when we had that little snow-"all-season" tires my ass...if you are able to,find a cheap set of rims for your vehicle and get a dedicated set of 4 snow tires-you'll be glad you did.Be safe in your travels today! Anybody else hear the thunder around 11am or so? It lasted like 15-20 seconds........

Dec 1, 2010, 1:09pm Permalink
Bob Rathenburgh

Thanks for posting about the closing near church/77 in darien. My loved ones are on thier way home and take that way so i was able to contact them about it. Its nice to have a heads up instead of going a way that is closed and being turned around at that area. THANKS.

Also, that was such a loud thunder i couldnt believe it. Friends of mine were telling me it was thundering like crazy in buffalo, ny today. I didnt think it would make it out this way but im glad it did because it was very neat!

Dec 1, 2010, 2:21pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Bob, thanks for letting us know that an update like that served a purpose. That's why we do our best to stay on top of these sorts of things.

Dec 1, 2010, 2:32pm Permalink

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