A pickup truck has hit the rear end of a semi-truck on the Thruway in the eastbound lane near mile marker 387.2.

A victim is trapped in the vehicle with possible serious injuries.  A landing zone is being set up for Mercy Flight.

Animal control has been dispatched to assist with two dogs in the pickup truck

Town of Batavia Fire, Le Roy Fire, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 7:51 a.m.: A possible secondary accident, possibly a tractor-trailer rollover, is reported near the first accident.

UPDATE 8:08 a.m.: There are no dogs involved. Animal Control is back in service.

UPDATE 8:10 a.m.: The victim has been extricated.

UPDATE 8:17 a.m.: The secondary accident was jack-knifed truck. A chief at the first accident reports that was the location with the dogs.  A dispatcher asked if Animal Control was still needed, and the chief said, "I don't have that information at this point."  The location is 387.0, eastbound. 

UPDATE 8:21 a.m.: The jack-knifed truck is on its side. That is where the dogs are. A deputy is requested to go secure them. Animal Control is dispatched to Prole Road and Byron Road.

UPDATE 8:23 a.m.: Mercy EMS dispatched to Prole Road and Byron Road for a patient involved in the second accident.

UPDATE 8:29 a.m.: A Batavia patrol officer is requested to Oak Street and the Thruway interchange to assist with traffic.

UPDATE 8:33 a.m.: Animal control has secured the dogs and they are being transported to the Animal Shelter.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: One eastbound lane is being reopened.

Pembroke Fire and Indian Falls dispatched. East Pembroke requested to the scene.

No word on injuries.

On Saturday, Jan. 13, a travel ban for Erie County and the I-90 has been issued due to the severe winter weather forecasted to impact Western New York through Sunday.

The driving ban begins on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 9 p.m. Anyone on the road that is not considered emergency personnel will be ticketed in Erie County and the I-90. The ban will be active till Sunday, Jan. 14 at 6 a.m. Depending on the storm on Sunday, the ban may be extended. A travel advisory for the entire area of Western New York remains in effect.

Additionally, there is a ban on Trucks/tractor trailer traffic on the I-90 from Exit 46 in the Rochester/Henrietta to the Pennsylvania border.

The Buffalo Bills game has been rescheduled to Monday, Jan. 15 at 4:30 p.m.

Troopers will be out checking all major routes of travel to ensure that motorists are as safe as possible and working with local Emergency Operations Centers as needed.  The State Police need your assistance to make this possible.  Motorists traveling in areas impacted by the snow and ice are asked to leave with extra time to make a slow and careful drive to your destination. Consider the snow accumulation on the roads, the current snowfall rate, the wind, and visibility.  Use your best judgment to determine if driving is prudent.  

Keep the following tips in mind:

•    Get the latest weather forecast before leaving with your local weather apps, monitor radio or TV stations.
•    Always clean your windows and mirrors FULLY of any snow and ice before driving.
•    Keep a full tank of gas
•    Fluid levels are sufficient ( windshield washer fluid, ant-freeze)
•    Spare tire is sufficient and you have the jack and wheel wrench
•    Use headlights at all times to increase your visibility to others.  Remember, if your windshield wipers are in use due to weather, then your headlights must be on.
•    Drive prudently.  If the conditions are adverse, you should decrease your speed accordingly.
•    Brake early 
•    Do NOT use cruise control.  This decreases your reaction time to apply braking.
•    Look out for events farther down the road.  Creating more time to react can make a difference.
•    Be aware of maintenance vehicles and emergency vehicles.  Give them room to work. 
•    If you do not absolutely have to go out on the roads, then don’t.

If you do go out, is your vehicle prepared?

Is your trunk supplied to help you to be safe in case you are stopped or stranded in an area without assistance readily available:

• Gloves, blankets, warmers, tool kit, first-aid kit, non-perishable foods, water, working flashlight and batteries, cell phone charger, etc
• Shovel, ice scraper, de-icer, snow brush, rock salt or cat litter, tow chain or cable, jumper cables or battery charger, etc.

If you are involved in a collision or leave the roadway:

• If you drive off the roadway and are stuck in a snow bank or ditch, stay in your vehicle and call 911.  DO NOT exit your vehicle unless it is an absolute emergency.  You put yourself at risk of being struck by another vehicle.
• Roll your windows down a few inches or turn your vehicle off if you are stranded in snow for a period of time with your vehicle running. Covered mufflers can cause serious physical injury or death due to inhalation of carbon monoxide.
• If you should become stranded on the Thruway or any Roadway, know your location by being aware of your direction and mile post marker.  This will help emergency personnel reach your location as quickly as possible.  

The Thruway Authority provides a wide variety of information for travelers, including current traffic conditions, accidents, and lane closures.  Visit www.thruway.ny.gov for more information.  

Slow down.  Be prepared.  Be safe.  

Westbound Thruway traffic was blocked for a time this afternoon because of a truck fire in the area of mile marker 399.

Pembroke Fire, Indian Falls Fire, Corfu Fire, and East Pembroke Fire responded to the call, which came in at 12:28 p.m.

No injuries were reported.

The truck was hauling Poland Springs water.

Photos by Stephen Kowalcyk.

He reportedly has arm and hip pain. He is conscious and alert.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS is dispatched to the westbound lane in the area of mile marker 385.5.

The Town of Pembroke Planning Board approved a proposal for a new travel plaza off Exit 48a of the Thruway on Wednesday, clearing the way for construction to begin in the spring.

When completed, the as-yet-unnamed travel plaza will join Flying J, TA, and Speedway as locations on Route 77 where travelers and truckers can rest, get a bite to eat, refuel and perhaps get a wash.

The vote to approve the environmental review and site plan passed 6-1, with board member Thomas Marshall casting the lone "nay."

Town of Batavia responded this evening to a fully involved tractor-trailer fire on the Thruway in the area of Genesee Community College.

Photo by Steve Ognibene.

East Pembroke Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

There is no voice contact.  No answer on callback.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: It doesn't look like a crash. A vehicle is on the shoulder with its four-ways on. Two men are out of the vehicle, walking.  The ambulance is canceled.

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.: The occupants had apparently lost a phone.  They found it.  Le Roy Fire is back in service.

Business growth in Pembroke is keeping Clarence-based engineer Michael Metzger busy.

He had two projects on the County Planning Board agenda on Thursday night -- a new travel center at the Thruway interchange and a 144-unit apartment complex proposed for Alleghany Road.

Earlier this year, Metzger was the engineer who helped present plans for a $142 million distribution center that is currently under construction next to the Thruway.

"Some of it is, quite frankly, driven by STAMP," Metzger told The Batavian after the planning board meeting.  "The apartment project that was presented tonight, by all means. Between the STAMP facility, what's been going on there, what's anticipated to be happening there, and the construction going on now at the interchange that will result in hundreds of new people working in that area, that's what Mr. (Mike) Schmidt (the apartment complex developer) is hoping for and planning for with (the apartment) project."