accident

Mercy Flight has been requested to the scene of a motocross accident in the Town of Covington, Wyoming County.

The location is within the Pavilion Fire District, and Pavilion volunteers are on scene on Brownell Road.

The rider lost consciousness, then regained consciousness, but was not entirely alert initially. He is now reportedly alert and has an arm burn.

UPDATE 5:21 p.m.: Mercy Flight in route to Strong. Pavilion back in service.

The driver of a red SUV that crossed the center line causing a serious-injury accident on Indian Falls Road on Thursday, remains in serious condition at ECMC and hasn't been available for interviews, Undersheriff Bill Sheron said. 

Sonya M. Charache, 30, of Gorton Road, suffered a head injury in the accident. It's unclear what caused her SUV to cross the center line, Sheron said.

"It's not unusual that in such accidents where there are head injuries that the victims don't remember much of the accident, or they can't recall what happened just prior to the accident," Sheron said.

It's possible prescription drugs could have been a factor, Sheron said, but toxicology reports have not been returned yet, so neither drugs nor alcohol as a contributing factor have been ruled out.

Three children in Charache's SUV and the driver of a blue pickup truck that was eastbound on Indian Falls Road were also injured.

The other driver, Donald Sage, 70, of Judge Road, Oakfield, remains hospitalized at Strong with multiple fractures and facial injuries.

The 6-year-old injured, Garrett M. Talbot, remains hospitalized. Sheron said he is making good progress toward recovery.

"None of the injuries are considered life threatening at this point," Sheron said.

The other two children, Jackson K. Gilbert, 2, and Kayda L. Charache, 1, both of Gorton Road, Alabama, are out of the hospital.

A vehicle struck a tree, then a house at 15 Holland Ave. in the City of Batavia. There are no injuries reported. City fire responded and is clearing. There is a small amount of structural damage to the porch and a little damage to the vehicle.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at Telephone and Cook roads in Pavilion. It's possibly a head-on collision. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding and the availability of Mercy Flight is being checked.

UPDATE: 1:10 p.m.: A responder on scene says there are minor injuries, including a chest injury and an arm injury. No need for Mercy Flight. Three vehicles are involved.

The victim of a tragic roller coaster accident at Darien Lake Theme Park this afternoon was 29-year-old James Hackemer, of Gowanda. He is a veteran of the Iraq War and a double-amputee. One of his legs was removed at the hip, and other below just above the knee.

The Ride of Steel is a lap-harness-only roller coaster. Its restraint system includes a yellow lap bar that covers approximately hip-to-hip, and a lap-only seat belt. There are no other bodily restraints built into the ride. Hackemer was not wearing prosthetic legs this afternoon.

At a news conference this evening, Genesee County Sheriff's Sergeant Greg Walker confirmed that Hackemer was riding in the front seat of the front car on The Ride of Steel at the time of the incident. He was sitting next to a family member. Sgt. Walker estimated the roller coaster was traveling about 50 mph. He could not say how far Hackemer had fallen.

Sheriff's investigations will continue tomorrow. Darien Lake officials and the NYS Department of Labor are also looking into the matter. No charges have been filed.

Park officials declined comment this evening, other than to say that the theme park will remain open on its normal schedule tomorrow. The Ride of Steel will remain closed. A message to the public has been posted on the Darien Lake website.

PHOTO: Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Mullen, left, and Sgt. Greg Walker. Photo by Geoff Redick of WBTA.

CORRECTION (1:04 a.m.): Victim's name updated to reflect proper spelling.

A patron, believed to be a male, fell off the Ride of Steel roller coaster (also known as Superman) this afternoon and died at Darien Lake Theme Park, according to Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha.

No other information is available at this time.

UPDATE (8:20 p.m.): According to a park spokesperson, the victim is an adult male. The accident happened at about 5:30 p.m. The ride and surrounding area are closed while the incident is under investigation.

A car versus motorcycle accident, with injuries, is reported at Walnut and Law streets. The caller at the scene reports the motorcyclist is conscious. City fire and police along with Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 7:17 p.m.: Portions of the streets will be shut down temporarily due to the accident.

UPDATE 7:32 p.m.: The motorcyclist is being taken to UMMC with non-life-threatening injuries. The fire engine is back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 395. One person is lying on the ground. East Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 6:47 p.m.: Four vehicles are involved. A medic on scene says injuries are minor. A second ambulance is requested.

UPDATE 6:51 p.m.: East Pembroke command ordered Mercy Squad 1 to go back in service.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: A State Trooper is on scene and a tow truck is en route.

A property damage accident is reported in front of Arby's on West Main Street in the city. It is blocking traffic. City fire and police are responding.

A three-car accident, with minor injuries, is reported at Route 77 and the Thruway interchange. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS are responding.

Three children and two adults were injured in a head-on collision that required the response of three Mercy Flight helicopters to the area of Indian Falls Road and Pratt Road on Thursday.

None of the injuries are believed life threatening, though at least one patient remains in intensive care at a hospital.

A Sheriff's Office investigation indicates that a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Sonya M. Charache, 30, of Gorton Road, Alabama, was southbound on Indian Falls Road when it crossed into the northbound lane for an unknown reason.

The SUV struck a 2004 Chevy Silverado being driven by Donald Sage, 70, of Judge Road, Oakfield.

Sage is in guarded condition (in intensive care) at Strong Memorial Hospital. Sage was transported to Strong by Mercy Flight.

Charache was reportedly unconscious following the accident and taken by Mercy Flight, according to the Sheriff's Office, to Erie County Medical Center. However, this morning, ECMC patient information had no information on Charache's condition.

Riding in Charache's SUV were three children, Jackson K. Gilbert, 2, and Kayda L. Charache, 1, both of Gorton Road, Alabama, and Garrett M. Talbot, 6, of the City of Batavia. 

Garrett was transported to Women & Children's Hospital in Buffalo by Mercy Flight. His condition is not known at this time.

The other two children were transported by the Oakfield volunteer ambulance to UMMC.

Members of the Indian Falls, East Pembroke and Pembroke volunteer fire departments responded to the scene and extricated the patients from the vehicles.

Also responding was the Corfu Volunteer Fire Department along with Mercy EMS, Genesee Emergency Services and the Sheriff's Office.

The accident investigation is being handled by Deputy Kevin McCarthy, Sgt. Greg Walker, Investigator Kris Kautz and Sgt. William Scott of the Crash Management Team.

( Initial report and more photos)

A two-car, head-on collision accident is reported on Indian Falls Road in the area of Pratt Road. Both drivers will need extrication. One of them is unresponsive and has three minors as passengers.

East Pembroke Fire Department is responding, along with mutual aid from Pembroke and Indian Falls, plus two Mercy EMS units. Two Mercy Flight helicopters are called in and a landing zone is being set up on the corner of Pratt and Indian Falls roads.

An Oakfield medic is on scene and a rig out of Oakfield is called to respond, too. Corfu Fire Police are called to handle traffic control and to shut down Indian Falls Road.

UPDATE 5:21 p.m.: A third Mercy Flight helicopter is called for, and is available, but a crew needs to be assembled. They are working to do that and will advise.

UPDATE 5:22 p.m.: The first helicopter is on the ground. Indian Falls at Route 5 is being closed to traffic.

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: A second landing zone is being set up north of the scene, on the southeast corner of Indian Falls and Cleveland roads.

UPDATE 5:27 p.m.: A third helicopter has secured a crew and is 15 minutes away.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: A third landing zone is being set up at Kilian and Slusser roads.

UPDATE 5:33 p.m.: The second helicopter has landed, but not at the site originally designated. It's at Pratt and Indian Falls roads, where the first helicopter landed.

UPDATE 5:37: "Mercy Flight is advising they have a fourth helicopter if Squad 2 can ride on it."

UPDATE 5:38 p.m.: A fourth helicopter will not be needed.

UPDATE 5:41 p.m.: All patients have been extricated.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: Oakfield medics are en route to UMMC with two small children on board.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: The last helicopter has landed. The first chopper is headed to Women & Children's Hospital in Buffalo.

UPDATE 5:56 p.m.: The second helicopter is headed to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: The last helicopter is headed to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester at the patient's request.

UPDATE 7:48 p.m.: All East Pembroke units back in service. The road is reopened.

UPDATE 10:11 p.m.: A caller has told dispatchers that a television news crew is setting up in the area of the accident with very bright lights, "blinding drivers." A deputy is responding.

More pictures from the scene after the jump.

A car has struck a tree on Trumbull Parkway. City Fire Department and Mercy EMS on scene.

UPDATE: There didn't appear to be any injuries.

A car has hit a pole on Cedar Street near the Sandwash.

Mercy EMS and City Fire Department dispatched.

UPDATE: No to very minor injuries.

Someone has suffered a lacerated finger following a reported car versus motorcycle accident in front of 14 East Ave.

City of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy BLS (non-emergency mode) are responding. The location is between Columbia Avenue and Ross Street.

A 20-year-old man sustained only minor injuries after his car careened off the Thruway, onto the south shoulder of the roadway, flipped and landed on its roof in a ditch.

The driver managed to pull himself out of the wreckage and is being transported by Mercy medics to UMMC.

The accident happened at 4:03 p.m. He was heading eastbound when, for reasons unknown, his Honda sedan veered off the Thruway.

The accident scene was about 20 feet from curve where Park Road becomes Veterans Memorial Drive.

A bicyclist from Erie County was injured late Monday morning when a car reportedly turned in front of him at the intersection of Alleghany and Sumner roads, Darien.

Mercy Flight was initially dispatched to the scene, but was canceled before arrival.

Transported by ground ambulance to ECMC was Albert W. Weber, 49, of Heise Road, Clarence Center. He was treated and released.

Cited for allegedly failing to use a turn signal was Lynn A. Pilc, 38, of Schoellkopf Road, Cowlesville.

Pilc was driving a 2008 Ford SUV northbound on Route 77 when she reportedly decided to make a right-hand turn onto Sumner Road.

Pilc allegedly turned in front of Weber's bike and he was apparently unable to avoid a collision.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Nathan Balduf.

A car is on its roof in the area of 44 Lake St., Village of Le Roy.

All occupants are out of the vehicle.

No word on injuries.

Le Roy Fire and Ambulance responding.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: Traffic is being shut down on Route 19 in both directions at Mill and at Bacon streets.

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Two people were injured at 9:28 p.m. Monday, when the motorcycle they were riding on Creamery Road, Bergen, struck a deer.

Taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where they are listed in satisfactory condition, were Craig W. Stevens, 55, of West Sweden Road, Bergen, and Sharyn L. Stevens, 54.

Craig Stevens was driving his 2009 Honda westbound on Creamery Road when a deer attempted to cross the roadway. The bike collided with the deer, overturned onto its left side, ejecting both Craig and Sharyn. It then overturned onto its right side and slid further down the asphalt.

A two-car "T-bone" accident is reported at Sumner and Colby roads in Darien. There are injuries but everyone was conscious at the time of the call to dispatch.

Darien Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 1:02 p.m.: A firefighter says a utility pole was damaged. It doesn't appear to be in danger of toppling over but it was "struck pretty good." One of the cars involved has Indiana plates. Two tows are called, including one flatbed.

UPDATE 1:25 p.m.: Darien fire is back in service.

UPDATE 1:42 p.m.: Mercy medics are taking three people to UMMC and another person is being taken there in a private vehicle. National Grid has been notified abou the damaged pole.