accident

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported on Crosby Road, possibily near Lewiston Road.

Unknown injuries. The caller left the scene. The caller guessed it was closer to Lewiston.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 6:45 a.m.: A chief on scene wants to ensure law enforcement is in route. One of the Alabama engines responding can stand down and the Mercy ambulance responding can stand down.

A driver involved in a two-car accident on Norton Road yesterday said he was had something in his left eye and was rubbing it while making a left-hand turn. As a result, he said, he never saw the car that hit his.

The other driver was taken to ECMC by Mercy Flight, were she was treated in the emergency room and released.

James J. Heschke, 60, of East Pembroke, was driving a 1998 Ford SUV south on Norton Road at 1:29 p.m. when he made a left-hand turn onto property owned by Torrey Farms at 7170 Norton Road.

At that point, he said, he had something in his left eye.

Amanda C. Demare, 19, of Barrville Road, Elba, was driving a 2000 Subaru SUV north on Norton Road.

Heschke said he never saw Demare's vehicle until they hit.

Demare's SUV was pushed into a utility pole off the east shoulder of the road. A telephone wire came down, but the pole appeared undamaged, according to the accident report.

Heschke received a citation for alleged failure to yield right of way.

Elba fire and Mercy EMS responded to the scene.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Brian Thompson.

(Initial Report)

Illustration: Diagram from accident report.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 7170 Norton Road. Elba Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding, along with mutual aid from Town of Batavia fire. The location is between Edgerton and Ford roads. One subject "is now conscious but not alert."

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: A crew is asked to be ready to set up a landing zone for Mercy Flight, if it is needed.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: Fire police are asked to shut down Norton at Ford Road and at Edgerton Road.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: Mercy Flight was called to the scene and is about to land.

UPDATE: Patient transported to ECMC. Elba cleared the scene shortly after 2 p.m.

A one-vehicle rollover, just a minor injury, possibly a sign-off, is reported at 10719 Bethany Center Road. Bethany Fire Department is responding. The location is between Linden Road and Route 20.

UPDATE 3:48 p.m.: The Bethany assignment is back in service.

Two people suffered minor injuries Thursday following a two-car collision in the area of 1630 Lewiston Road, Alabama.

The accident was reported at 12:40 p.m.

Injured were A.M. Vanwyngaarden, 23, of Jackson Road, Holley, and Phillip C. Rhoades II, 46, of Main Street, Candor.

According to the accident report written by Deputy Chris Parker, Vanwyngararden's 2004 Pontiac sedan was heading west on Lewiston Road when it traveled off the north shoulder. It then moved back across the eastbound lane and struck the 2011 Hyundai sedan driven by Rhoades.

Vanwyngaarden was issued citations for alleged failure to stay on the right side of the road and uninspected motor vehicle.

(Initial Report)

A one-vehicle rollover accident with injuries is reported at 922 Genesee St., Corfu. Corfu Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 10:59 p.m.: A responder on scene says the driver is out of the vehicle, alert and walking around. "He appears to be fine."

UPDATE 11:07 a.m.: Fire command cancelled the medics. A State Trooper is handling the scene.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on westbound Thruway at mile marker 380.7. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding. A crew from Pavilion is staging in Le Roy's fire hall.

UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: The Thruway Authority says there is reportedly another accident along the same stretch of roadway at mile marker 388.7 and the Town of Batavia was called to respond. "It may be one and the same accident. ... It is unfounded at this point," says the dispatcher.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: Le Roy and Pavilion are back in service.

Former County Legislator Richard M. Rudolph of District #3 was seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident this afternoon in Warsaw which left another person dead.

State Police responded to the accident, which occurred on Route 98 just south of the intersection with Lindsey Road in the Town of Attica, at about 2:30. They determined a vehicle operated by Terry J. O'Neill, 54, of Varysburg, was southbound, rounding a curve in the highway. The roadway was partially covered with windblown snow.

She lost control of her 1998 Buick LeSabre and went broadside, crossing into the northbound lane. A second vehicle operated by 88-year-old Rudolph, now of Akron, was northbound and could not take evasive action in time before striking O'Neill's vehicle directly broadside on the passenger side.

Both vehicles continued off the highway and came to rest in a field on the east shoulder.

Rudolph was transported by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center for treatment of chest abrasions and pain, but his injuries appear do not appear life threatening. O'Neill was transported to Wyoming County Community Hospital in Warsaw by Attica Ambulance, suffering from severe head trauma and she succumbed to her injuries at approximately 4 p.m.

Troop A Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to assist with the investigation, which is continuing. Troopers were assisted by Attica and Varysburg Fire and Rescue personnel, Wyoming County Medic 80 and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 9865 Alexander Road (Route 98), north of Peaviner Road. Alexander Fire Department and Ambulance Service responding.

UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: Two Mercy rigs are also called to the scene. Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia is available. Route 98 will be shut down -- northbound at Peaviner, and southbound at Dodgeson. There are three patients, one of whom has minor injuries.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene. It has a three-minute ETA. Mutual aid from Town of Batavia fire is requested.

UPDATE 5:02 p.m.: The helicopter will land in a hay field on the west side of the road. The patient is a 77-year-old female who was a passenger in one of the vehicles. She is conscious and alert and complaining of chest pain.

UPDATE 5:07 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed. Town of Batavia's Brush Truck #23 is on scene.

UPDATE 5:10 p.m.: Mutual aid from Attica fire is en route.

UPDATE 5:27 p.m.: Alexander ambulance is transporting a patient to UMMC. The patient is a 17-year-old female who experienced "major intrusion into the compartment (of the dashboard?)" and complains of a headache and pain below the sternum.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 5:34 p.m.: A Mercy ambulance is transporting a patient to Strong also.

UPDATE 5:51 p.m.: The road is reopened. Town of Batavia and Attica are back in service.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m.: Alexander is back in service.

A one-car rollover accident is reported at 9922 Alexander Road (Route 98). Minor injuries reported. Alexander Fire Deparment and an ambulance are responding. The location is between Peaviner and Lang roads.

UPDATE 3:40 p.m.: The female driver is being transported to UMMC for evaluation. She has no complaints of pain.

A two-car accident is reported at East Main and Ross streets. One person is complaining of abdominal pain. One of the cars is on the sidewalk. City fire, police and Mercy medics responding.

UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: A 26-year-old male complaining of abdominal pain and left side pain was transported to UMMC. Engine 11 left the scene and is back in service.

A tractor-trailer versus car accident is reported at the intersection of routes 33 and 77. A female is complaining of lower back pain. Law enforcement is on scene and Mercy medics and Corfu fire are responding.

UPDATE 3:38 a.m.: The patient is being transported to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 3:43 a.m.: Corfu is back in service.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at 192 Sumner Road in Darien. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 11:35 a.m.: The accident is in Crittenden. Erie County and Alden are handling. The patient is a sign-off. Darien and Mercy medics are back in service.

A car slammed into a pole at 201 Liberty St. and injuries are reported. Fluids are leaking. City fire, Mercy medics and police are responding.

UPDATE 1:42 p.m.: National Grid is notified about the damaged pole. No ETA given.

UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: The assignment is back in service.

Accidents will happen. That certainly appeared to be the case last night at Suicide Corners after a tractor-trailer struck the home of Tom and Debbie Douglas.

The intersection has a reputation for being dangerous. But it appears that none of the factors sometimes attributed to the intersection contributed to last night's crash.

Suicide Corners is the intersection of East Road and Route 20 in Bethany.

A year ago, the Douglases were worried the state would take their home to build a roundabout to improve traffic safety at the intersection, but community pressure helped convince the DOT to scuttle the plan.

It's been at least five years since there has been an accident at the intersection and more than a decade since the last fatal accident there.

Tom Douglas thinks improved signs and lighting have helped make the intersection safer and DOT is planning to add more safety enhancements this summer.

There was a moment at about 3:30 a.m. when he thought, "here we go again."

"We were asleep and we heard a big bang," Douglas said. "It didn't sound like a car wreck and the house just shook a lot. I thought a tree had come down. It was windy last night. I looked out the window and I saw the car lights. I saw the driver looking under the truck, almost like he'd hit another car, so I yelled out to him and he said no. When I came downstairs it was like, 'wow! what a mess.' "

The truck knocked a hole in the living room wall, pushing a couch well into the room and sending debris flying.

Douglas said the driver was pulling an empty trailer. The south blowing wind had caused a great deal of snow to pile up on Route 20 on the hill west of the Douglas residence. The empty box, the wind and the snow caused the truck to jackknife. The truck actually hit the house at an angle, and with the impact of the cab, the trailer whipped around to the east, pulling the cab back toward Route 20.

Nobody was injured in the accident.

Top photo: Douglas explains what happened to his house when the truck hit it. Pictures below provided by Tom Douglas.

A tractor-trailer struck a house in Bethany at 1051 10515 East Road, at the intersection of Route 20. No injuries are reported. "Unknown circumstances." Bethany Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:44 a.m.: Firefighters are on scene. Command confirms the big rig struck the house and now is in the yard "well off the roadway." Road conditions at Suicide Corners are described has having a lot of drifting snow. "We're going to need a plow out here. We've got a large amount of snow covering the whole roadway." The Department of Transportation is notified about the need for plowing. A heavy wrecker is called to pull out the truck and, most likely, tow it away. The house that was hit is the 200-year-old home owned by the Douglas family. Last year, the DOT proposed putting a roundabout at the intesection to reduce the high number of accidents there. It would have required tearing down the house. Ultimately, residents' opposition convinced the DOT to drop the roundabout plans. In DOT studies going back to the 1990s, there have been 36 crashes at the intersection and three fatal accidents.

UPDATE: Last night, a responder estimated the damaged area on the structure to be about 10'X10'.

A three-car accident with injuries is reported near the intersection of Route 98 and Federal Drive. It is blocking traffic. Town of Batavia fire and Mercy medics are responding along with law enforcement.

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: The northbound lane(s) is blocked.

UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: To accommodate traffic flow, they are going to alternate southbound and northbound using the southbound lane. Another ambulance is called. There appears to be no fluids leaking from the vehicles.

UPDATE 6:13 p.m.: Two patients will need evaluation, but no transportation is likely.

UPDATE 6:28 p.m.: A female is being transported to UMMC with complaints of neck and lower back pain. This was rear-end accident involving four cars.

An accident involving two or three vehicles is reported at 24 Ross St. and it's blocking traffic. Unknown injuries. City police are responding. Arguments are reported. "It's that time of day," says the dispatcher.

A two three-vehicle accident is reported at Oak Street and Richmond Avenue and it is blocking traffic. A female is complaining of chest pain. City fire is responding along with Mercy medics and traffic control is needed.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: A female driver with complaints of chest pain is being taken to UMMC for evaluation. City Engine 11 is back in service.

A one-vehicle rollover is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 377.4. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding and a crew from Pavilion is requested to stage in its hall.

UPDATE 5:48 p.m.: An engine from Pavilion is requested to stand by in Le Roy's hall.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: State Police on scene say all responders can go back in service -- no need for fire or medical personnel.