Skip to main content

Traffic accident by Oatka Milk Products location

By Billie Owens

A two-vehicle traffic accident with minor injuries is reported at 165 Cedar St., at Oatka Milk Products. City fire and Mercy EMS are responding, although it is outside the city. There was no unit from the town available, but now one apparently is.

The accident is on the Ellicott Street portion of the business.

A fire official says a little bit of radiator fluid is leaking and there are two minor injuries that need to be checked out. Both victims are out and walking around.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: In this accident, the city was called by dispatch first. Once on scene, city notified dispatch that the location was actually just outside the city, and the town was called. Both city and town cooperated.

Robert Hunt

Billie,

I'm not sure what you mean when you say there is no town unit available. The accident is in the Town of Batavia but the Town of Batavia Fire department was never dispatched or even notified by City fire when they arrived.

Dec 22, 2010, 1:08pm Permalink
Russ Salway

Glad to hear that both the injuries were minor, but be ready for more accidents with our new and improved (by the state) Ellicott st. After seeing the accident right after it happened and talking with a few of the first responders, It appears that the pick-up truck thought there was still two lanes on Ellicott st. The pick-up truck was in the right hand lane (where there isn't a lane now) and appeared to be passing the tractor trailer as they both were heading west into the city. The tractor trailer then turned right to enter Oakta milk. The pick-up truck then ran into the front part of the tractor trailer. I really don't see any reason why the state took a four lane highway that has a lot of truck traffic (that is vital to our local economy/jobs) and turned it into a two lane highway. Please someone tell me what advantages were gained? I believe this is the second accident in a week now. I'm afraid the accidents will continue. I hope I'm wrong about the accidents. I don't even want to think about it when people start to use the bike lanes in the spring! By the way, I think it took them about two hours after the accident to finally get the trucks pulled apart. Like I said, glad to hear these were minor injuries!

Dec 22, 2010, 4:36pm Permalink
Bob Price

Russ-the brilliant minds decided this (4 lanes to 2) for safety and speed reduction purposes-majority of the trucks that are on 63 are the ones that are using it as a shortcut to 390-there are some milk tankers and other ones for Oatka shuttling trailers between plant and warehouse behind Chapins.There are quite a few people displeased with this lane reduction.....as far as the bike lane goes-pretty stupid in my opinion.

Dec 22, 2010, 9:46pm Permalink
Bill Bogan

Russ, I believe most of the big trucks pass through without stopping, how does that help our local economy? besides beating up our roads employing people to fix it?

Dec 22, 2010, 10:26pm Permalink
Russ Salway

Bob I agree! It would have made more sense at least putting a turning lane into both Oatka and Chapins which receive a lot of truck traffic on a daily basis. Bill alot of the the big trucks do pass through our city, but a lot come to our city because of local businesses. I work for Oatka and we have alot of truck traffic bringing in milk and also shipping product in and out daily. The milk trucks haul milk 7 days a week with an average of two loads a day per truck. This employs several dairy farms in our area. Oatka employs around 300 people. I can only speak about Oatka, but I know Chapins and several area business rely on big trucks to both deliver and pick up product. The state has reduced route 98 from 4 lanes to 2 lanes, installed a roundabout that big trucks drive over on a daily basis at the intersection of route 33/98 and now reduced the 4 lanes to 2 lanes on route 63. I don't know of one thing that the city of Batavia gained by these three projects. We have more traffic now and less room. This will only create more accidents. Oh, and lets throw a bike lane into the mix. By the way Bill, that big truck that was struck by the pick-up was one of the many loads being delivered to Oatka daily.

Dec 23, 2010, 6:49pm Permalink

Authentically Local