accident

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on the Thruway in the westbound lane in the area of mile marker 391.9.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 10:18 p.m.: Town assignment back in service. 

The extrication process to remove the injured driver of a tanker truck this afternoon in Alexander was extensive and difficult, according to Tim Yaeger, Genesee County Emergency Services coordinator. The trucker was hauling 60,000 pounds of milk when it rolled over into a wet ditch filled with cattails.

Shortly before noon, Alexander Fire Department was dispatched to 11181 Chaddock Road in Alexander, between Spring Road and the Wyoming County line. The male driver remained conscious, alert and talking throughout but pinned in by the steering wheel, dashboard and a foot or more of earth that the semi-truck rammed into.

"They were both fighting against the vehicle that was damaged and pinning him, as well as working against the dirt where the truck ended up landing," Yaeger said.

The biggest obstacle was coming up with a plan.

"We train a lot for peeling away, and cutting away and spreading away metal. This was a little more complicated because he was trapped by earth as well as metal. So it was a difficulty and just time-consuming."

Asked if groundwater seeping into the cab posed a danger to the trapped driver, Yaeger said no, the concern here, as in any vehicle accident, was the hazard of fire.

He said a lot of equipment was called to the scene. The Alexander fire chief wanted to make sure they had all the resources they needed. More manpower was warranted because of the heat and humidity.

Mercy medics responded along with Attica and their extrication equipment, Bethany, Town of Batavia, Elba's rescue truck, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the county Hazmat Spill Response Team. Stafford fire filled in at Alexander's fire hall.

It took more than an hour to extricate the driver, who was ​transported by Mercy EMS to ECMC. Although Mercy Flight landed in an adjacent cornfield to transport the patient, it was unable to do so because of a mechanical issue involving the equipment to secure the gurney; so the aircraft returned to the hangar.

He said the spill was significant and included oil and hydraulic fluid in addition to the milk in the tanker; no fuel was seen.

It is “fairly contained.”

A heavy rescue team will offload unspilt product onto another truck to facilitate uprighting the damaged vehicle.

The process will take a couple of hours, possibly up to four hours.

The accident occurred by a curve, but Yaeger could not speculate about what caused the accident, which is under investigation.

"Members and firefighters, medics from several agencies, along with law enforcement worked to get the patient out safely," Yaeger said. “It’s all hands on deck, we’re going to give everything that we could. And they did a fantastic job working as a team.”

Photos and audio of Tim Yaeger courtesy of Alecia Kaus / Video News Service.

Previously: Driver pinned in after rollover on Chaddock Road, Alexander

UPDATE: Reader-submitted photos.

A car vs. bicycle accident with unknown injuries is reported in Downtown Batavia on Bank Street near Alva Place. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported in Bergen at the intersection of Clinton Street Road and West Bergen Road. One Mercy ambulance is called to the scene in emergency mode; a second ambulance is requested. Bergen Fire Department is responding along with law enforcement.

There are two patients; one is complaining of neck and chest pain and has an eye laceration.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: Command reports a property damage accident at the same scene. A tow truck backed into an ambulance. The Bergen assisgnment is back in service. Mercy BLS #5 is transporting one patient to UMMC.

UPDATE 3:40 p.m.: One patient is a female with an injured, bleeding right hand. She also has an injured left ankle. There was air bag deployment and heavy front-end damage to her vehicle.

A one-vehicle rollover is reported at 11181 Chaddock Road in Alexander between Spring Road and the Wyoming County line. The male driver is conscious and alert but pinned in by the steering wheel.

Alexander Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding along with Attica and their extrication equipment. Mercy Flight's availability is checked and it is available.

"We're gonna need help with extrication -- he's pinned in there pretty good," says command at the scene.

UPDATE 12:08 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene and has a 12-minute ETA. Dan's Towing is en route with a heavy wrecker/"rotater." Milk is spilled in a ditch; the Department of Environmental Conservation is advised. 

UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: "A large amount of milk is down in the soil, uncontrolled at this point," says a first responder. A DEC rep is being requested to the scene. Mercy Flight will land in a cornfield east of the accident site. The driver of the tanker truck has a severe leg injury.

UPDATE 12:54 p.m.: Stafford fire is asked to fill in at Alexander's fire hall.

UPDATE 12:57 p.m.: Attica is being deployed as rehab for the first responders.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: Elba's rescue equipment is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: One Alexander fire truck is back in service.

UPDATE 1:42 p.m.: Mercy Flight just lifted off to take the patient to a hospital to return to the Batavia hangar.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: Command releases Town of Batavia, Attica and Bethany. Alexander #6 will remain on scene.

UPDATE 2:41 p.m.: Alexander is clearing the scene, which is turned over to law enforcement.

MORE T/K

Photos by Alecia Kaus, Video News Service.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at East Main and Cedar streets in the city. City fire, Mercy medics and police are responding.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a personal injury motorcycle accident that occurred on Saturday, June 5, at approximately 2:30 a.m. in front of 7 Main St.

The motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on West Main Street at an excessive speed. The motorcyclist failed to navigate the curve on West Main Street at Ellicott Street, striking the curbing in front of the Upton Monument.

The motorcyclist was ejected from the motorcycle, coming to rest in front of 7 Main St. The motorcyclist was transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC where the motorcyclist was listed as stable with non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and the Batavia Police Department will not be releasing the name of the motorcyclist at this time.

The Batavia Police Department would like to thank the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS, and Mercy Flight Air Crew for their assistance with the initial investigation. 

An accident involving a motorcycle is reported in the area of 7218 South Lake Road.

Mercy Flight is on a ground standby.

Bergen Fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: Mercy Flight won't be required. A Mercy ambulance that was also responding has been put back in service.

UPDATE 5:34 p.m.: Bergen ambulance is transporting a patient to Strong.

UPDATE 5:36 p.m.: Bergen assignment back in service.

A car vs. motorcycle accident with injuries is reported at 994 Bloomingdale Road on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The location is between Ackerson and Griffin roads.

A first responder reports the motorcycle is in the middle of the road. The rider is conscious and alert, complaining of back pain and pain in both arms. Two vehicles are off the road at the scene.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: Responders can continue in nonemergency mode. "Everything seems to be all right here," says command.

UPDATE 3:31 p.m.: Two tows are needed, for the motorcycle and one vehicle.

UPDATE 3:42 p.m.: A Mercy BLS ambulance is called to the scene.

A motorcycle accident is reported in Bergen at 7218 S. Lake Road. No other vehicles are believed to be involved. The motorcyclist is up and walking around but is bleeding. Bergen fire and Mercy medics are responding.

A two-car accident is reported at Richmond Avenue and Bogue Avenue, Batavia.

One person is complaining of neck pain.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Pavilion Fire Police are responding for traffic control at a two-vehicle accident that is blocking traffic at Big Tree Road and Route 19.

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: The Pavilion assignment is back in service.

An accident is reported at Ellicott and Jackson streets in the city. Unknown injuries. City fire, police and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 11:39 a.m.: Two vehicles involved; two patients are being evaluated.

UPDATE 11:58 a.m.: A gold Chrysler minivan with Florida plates was southbound on Jackson and it appears to have missed the right turn lane when the driver decided to make a right anyway and go around the little turn island. At that point, the minivan was struck by a sedan. No injuries.

UPDATE AND CLARIFICATION (By Howard) 1:20 p.m.: Upon further investigation, police have determined the Chrysler van was southbound on Jackson and was not attempting a right turn. It was continuing straight. The van had a green light, according to Sgt. Mitch Cowen. The white vehicle was northbound (it might look like westbound on Ellicott Street but the state considers Route 63 a northbound/southbound roadway) and allegedly ran the red light. The driver of the Chrysler decided to be transported to UMMC for evaluation.

A three-car accident is reported at Galloway Road and Slusser roads in East Pembroke. A pregnant female complains of foot pain. A first responder says it is not blocking traffic. Pembroke Fire Department is responding and two Mercy medic ambulances are requested.

UPDATE 8:49 p.m.: The second ambulance is cancelled. Three flatbed tows will be needed.

UPDATE 8:59 p.m.: The Pembroke assignment is back in service.

Press release:

On May 31st at 3:51 p.m., the Batavia Police were dispatched to Otis Street for the report of a 6-year old female who had been struck by a vehicle. Upon patrols arriving on the scene, the child was conscious and speaking with officers. City of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS crews responded and evaluated the child on scene. 

The child was then transported to the Mercy Flight helipad, where the child was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. The accident occurred on private property at the residence on Otis Street, not on the roadway. Batavia Police interviewed the residents that were present at the time, including the driver. The operator, after disconnecting a trailer from his pickup truck, moved the vehicle striking the child who was in the yard on the passenger side of the vehicle. No impairment or intoxication is suspected, and no charges are pending.

At this time the child remains at Strong Memorial Hospital in serious but stable condition.

Previously: 6-year-old run over by a vehicle on Otis Street in the city

A 6-year-old child was reportedly run over by a vehicle at 117 Otis St. in the city. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:55 p.m.: Police are on scene.

UPDATE 3:59 p.m.: Command asks that the availability of Mercy Flight be checked.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: A 6-year-old girl who lives at the address was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Before the accident occurred, a man at the address backed a trailer loaded with ATVs into the side yard and unhooked the trailer. After unhitching the trailer, he got back into his truck and pulled forward. That's when he heard the girl scream. He told police he knew the girl was outside playing with her dog but thought she was on the other side of the house.

A caller reports that a motorcyclist rear-ended her car on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 384 in the eastbound lane.

The rider is down in the roadway.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched. Mercy Flight is on in-air standby.

UPDATE 10:47 a.m.: One patient transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.

A two-vehicle accident is reported in the median in front of Arby's at 212 W. Main St. in Batavia. One driver is complaining of whiplash. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

The location is between Holland Avenue and Oak Street.

A two-car accident with no injuries that is blocking traffic is reported at Center and Main streets in Downtown Batavia. City fire and police are responding.

A possible school bus accident with a person down in the parking lot is reported at Batavia High School. City fire and Mercy medics are responding to 260 State St.

UPDATE 9:28 a.m.: A first responder says this is NOT a school bus accident; it's strictly a medical issue. He said he believes a school bus driver was the reporting party.