thruway

A rollover accident is reported on the Thruway in the eastbound lane near mile marker 401.8.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responding along with Mercy EMS.

The vehicle is in the median.

Unknown injuries.

UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: A Mercy medic reports both patients out of the vehicle. Both likely sign-offs (no medical transport). Pembroke and Indian Falls engines standing by at the hall or at the toll booth.

UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls back in service.

Is this your cat? Lori Vosburgh is trying to help find the feline's rightful owner. Here's what she says about it:

Jacob Bukowski was driving on the Thruway Jan. 31st, when he saw this cat laying down in the median between the Pembroke and Depew exits on the Thruway, right before the South Newstead RD overpass and 4 miles east of the Clarence Travel Plaza (Tim Horton's service area).

She was thin, cold, hungry and the hair around her neck was matted. He took her home and then to the vet the next morning. She is a young female, not micro-chipped, declawed and spayed. Instead of leaving the hair matted they shaved a little of it off. She was clearly an indoor cat and very friendly. She smelled like a farm and for obvious reasons was very dirty.

We think she may have been outside for at least a month, as another woman tried to rescue her the first of January but was unable to due to safety concerns with traffic. She reported it with the police but they must not have been able to rescue her.

She's a beautiful sweet cat and I'd like nothing more than to find her owners, or someone that would be willing to take her in. It's amazing that she made it through the bitter temperatures and snowy conditions!

If it's your cat or you can help find the owner, call Brittany  at (585) 297-0297.

Deputies are heading out to the various locations were truckers are parked to let them know that one lane of the Thruway is open in each direction in what one dispatcher called a "soft opening" of the I-90.

The goal is to start clearing truck traffic, especially in those areas, such as portions of Route 63 and Route 77, where truckers have parked to wait out the hazardous travel conditions.

A travel ban has been in effect all night for Genesee County and remains in effect at this hour. County officials are currently meeting at emergency operations center discussing the matter after sending road crews out to assess the situation.

No word yet on when the ban might be lift.

UPDATE 5:25 a.m.: A deputy reports Route 77 is now clear of truck traffic.

UPDATE 5:37 a.m.: Office Max, Home Depot and Target parking lots are now clear. Truckers at Walmart being notified next.

UPDATE 5:46 a.m.: The travel advisory for Wyoming County has been lifted.

UPDATE 5:51 a.m.: Walmart is clear. Kmart is next.

UPDATE 6:33 a.m.: Truck traffic for fuel going into Flying J is getting backed up on Route 77. A deputy says he's going to have to shut down truck traffic at Brickhouse Corners.

UPDATE 7:09 a.m.: Route 77 is being closed to all northbound traffic at Brickhouse Corners.

The driver of a truck hauling an out-of-service Mercy Flight helicopter apparently hit a slick spot on the road and lost control of the truck, causing the trailer to roll over.

The helicopter was heavily damaged when it rolled off the trailer.

"It's just property damage," said Mercy Flight's CFO Margaret Ferentino. "That's the good news. Thank goodness, no one was hurt."

The helicopter was taken out of service in 2011 and had been sold to a company in Australia. It was being hauled to Canandaigua for repainting.

Most of the components had been removed to prepare it for repainting, Ferentino said.

Based on pictures from the scene, Ferentino said it appears the helicopter was totaled in the accident, but it will be assessed when it's returned to Mercy Flight's base in Buffalo.

The accident was reported at 10:38 a.m. in the area of mile marker 402, which is just west of the Pembroke toll plaza.

Photo: Courtesy NYSP Public Information Officer, Troop A, Trooper Victor Morales.

A car has reportedly struck a guard rail on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 394.

Dispatchers have received multiple calls. One caller reports the car struck the guard rail head-on.

No word on possible injuries.

East Pembroke fire is responding.

UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: Mercy ambulance on scene, confirming minor injuries. The location is mile marker 394.6.

UPDATE 9:50 a.m.: East Pembroke back in service.

The East Pembroke Fire Department has been dispatched to mile post marker 397.2 westbound on the New York State Thruway for a possible fire in the engine compartment of a tractor-trailer.

Call into 9-1-1 reports heavy smoke coming from the engine area.

The truck is described as having an open flatbed trailer with contents on the flatbed.

UPDATE 2:06 p.m.: East Pembroke fire on scene and there is no smoke showing.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: East Pembroke Fire Department reports a blown motor and the tractor-trailer will need a tow. The occupants will remain in the cab. East Pembroke assignment will go back into service. State Police are now on location.

A car has reportedly traveled well of the roadway on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 403 in the west bound lane.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments along with Mercy EMS are dispatch for what is reportedly a minor injury accident.

UPDATE 1:06 p.m.: One person transported to UMMC with minor injuries.

A rollover accident has been reported on the Thruway in the westbound lane in the area of mile marker 389.2.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:57 p.m.: A passerby did stop and they're reporting minor injuries, but the motor won't shut off. The location is about a half mile west of Bank Street Road.

UPDATE 10:04 p.m.: Assignment being held to two engines on scene and Mercy EMS. There two occupants and both are out of the vehicle.

An RV is reportedly on fire in the area of mile marker 387 in the westbound lanes of the Thruway.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched.

The operator of the RV called in the fire and said they are towing a vehicle and there are five dogs inside the RV.

UPDATE 9:10 p.m.: A trooper on scene reports all dogs are out safely. The RV is not engulfed. Only wires are burning.

A tractor-trailer fire is reported on the Thruway near mile marker 381 in the westbound lane.

At least one caller has reported the fire. It's not known what cargo the truck may be carrying.

Le Roy Fire Department is responding.

Mile marker 381 is just west of the West Bergen Road overpass.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: A chief on scene reports there is no fire. The truck driver is having mechanical trouble.

A semi-truck is having mechanical trouble at the Le Roy Service Center off the Thruway near Vallance Road and is leaking a large quantity of diesel fuel, according to dispatchers.

The leak is coming from its saddle tanks.

Le Roy fire is dispatched to the scene.

UPDATE 8:56 a.m.: Chief asks for notification to the Department of Environmental Conservation. The fuel has leaked into one of the drainage ditches.

UPDATE 9:03 a.m.: There are more than 30 gallons on the ground.

UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Le Roy assignment back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 386.7 in the eastbound lane.

As many as three cars may be involved and there are possible injuries.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 4:52 p.m.: Fire crews on scene. There are no reports of any serious injuries.

A fuel leak of approximately 50 gallons is reported at the Pembroke service area on the Thruway.

East Pembroke Fire Department is being dispatched.

A tractor-trailer has reportedly rear-ended a passenger vehicle on the eastbound off ramp of Thruway Exit 48A and there are injuries reported.

Pembroke and Indian Falls responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 8:52 p.m.: The location is eastbound just before the off ramp.

UPDATE 8:59 p.m.: There are two injuries. One person is walking around. The other person is still in the car.

UPDATE 9:26 p.m.: There were two dogs in the vehicle. One crated, the other not. There's no indication either animal was injured. Animal control is in route to assist with the dogs.

A 42-year-old Porter Avenue resident is in custody facing multiple criminal charges following a high-speed chase Monday night on the Thruway that covered 43 miles, both west and east, and reached speeds of 107 mph.

The chase ended at the toll booth road and Route 98, Batavia, when Ronald L. Worthington allegedly rammed a State Police car not once, but twice, and Worthington's sedan became disabled.

It already had two driver-side flat tires from hitting spike strips placed on the westbound Thruway exit by a deputy.

Worthington is charged with DWI, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, speeding and numerous other vehicle and traffic law violations, according to the State Police.

He was arraigned in city court and ordered held in the Genesee County Jail.

The chase started in the westbound lane of the Thruway, mile marker 401 in Pembroke, at 10:48 p.m.

Worthington allegedly continued west until reaching the toll booth plaza in Williamsville, at which point, the white sedan made a U-turn and headed back eastbound on the Thruway.

State Police units assigned to Troop A, Batavia, were dispatched to the Thruway. Deputies were sent to the Batavia exit -- knowing the suspect was driving a vehicle registered to a Porter Avenue resident -- and a deputy deployed the spike strips just minutes before the suspect reached Batavia.

After running over the spike strips, through the toll both and ramming the trooper car, the white sedan came to a stop and police officers from the State Police, Sheriff's Office and Batavia PD descended on the vehicle. The window on the driver's side was smashed out and officers grabbed Worthington and pulled him out of the vehicle.

Worthington was treated by Mercy EMS personnel for minor cuts caused by broken glass.

At this time, there is no report of a Taser or similar device being used to subdue the suspect.

(Initial Report)

An accident blocking both westbound lanes of the Thruway has been reported in the area of mile marker 390.2.

No word on injuries.

Town of Batavia Fire Department dispatched.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The location is right by the toll booth overpass, just east of Route 98. Three cars are involved. It may be that only one lane is blocked.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: Mercy medics on scene report no injuries. Town of Batavia fire will help troopers with traffic control.

A three-car accident with minor to no injuries is reported on the Thruway near mile marker 396 and in the westbound lane.

East Pembroke fire dispatched. It's the second call in the district for East Pembroke.

Mercy EMS dispatched as a precaution.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: The "car that caused it all took off" reports a chief on scene. Two cars involved on scene. No injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department requested to the Thruway to check the west bound lane. Dispatch is receiving reports of several accidents in the westbound lanes of the Thruway. An East Pembroke chief has been told of another three-car accident "back there" in the median. All available manpower requested to the Thruway.

UPDATED 2:02 p.m.: Confirmed two-car accident at mile marker 294.8.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: No injuries in the accident at 294.8. Town of Batavia fire is going back in service.

UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: East Pembroke assignment to the Thruway back in service.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance are being dispatched to mile marker 379.9 westbound on the Thruway near Le Roy for a car/deer accident. One subject has minor injuries due to glass in the face. State Police are also on location.

One person is believed still in the vehicle after a one-car rollover accident on the Thruway near mile marker 290.8.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:12 a.m.: One occupant, out of the vehicle, declining medical treatment.

UPDATE 3:26 a.m.: Town of Batavia back in service.