Consumer Reports: Best Bike Helmets

via MattarMedia - When it comes to kids' sports injuries, what's the leading cause of emergency room visits? Bike accidents. All too often, the child isn't wearing a helmet.

Consumer Reports put a dozen children's bike helmets through some tough tests to see how well they'd protect your child. In all, a dozen helmets were tested, ranging in price from $18 to $50.

One test simulates what happens when your head hits the pavement. Another test applies sudden force to the helmet's straps and buckle to see whether they stretch or break. That helps determine whether the helmet would come off in an accident.

But Consumer Reports says it doesn't matter whether you get a good helmet if it doesn't fit correctly. A popular Hannah Montana Denim helmet is supposed to fit children 8 and up. But Consumer Reports found it's too big for some 8-year-olds. It actually fit some adults!

A good-fitting helmet should fit snugly even before you tighten the straps. It should be level and no more than one or two fingers' widths above the brow. The straps should form a "V" under each ear and the buckle should be centered under the chin.

The Schwinn Thrasher did very well overall in Consumer Reports' tests and at $20 it's a Best Buy.

Over time, a bicycle helmet's straps might need to be adjusted either because of stretching, slippage, or a child's growth. So make sure you check them periodically.

Bike helmets should always be replaced after an accident, and at least every five years or sooner if the manufacturer recommends it. And as your child grows, you might need to replace the helmet even more frequently.

Consumer Reports has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor appearing on this Web site.

Motorcycle crash shut down parts of 198

via MattarMedia BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - An early morning motorcyle crash in Buffalo shut down part of the Scajaquada Expressway for hours.

It happened in the west-bound lanes of the 198, a little before 1 a.m. Wednesday. Police have not released any names or conditions.

Accident ties up traffic on Route 840

via MattarMedia UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Utica Police and State Troopers were still at the scene of an accident around 5 p.m. on Route 840 Wednesday afternoon.

A number of cars were involved in the crash tying up traffic in that area. It did not appear that there were any serious injuries, as many of the drivers were on the side of the road speaking with officers about what had happened.

The crash happened right before Route 840 turns into Route 8 heading south. No more information was available Wednesday evening.

German Flatts car crash injures three people

via MattarMedia GERMAN FLATTS, N.Y. (WKTV) - State Police continue to investigate a two-car crash in the Town of German Flatts that sent three people to the hospital.

The accident happened Sunday afternoon on Spinnerville Gulf Road when authorities say Storm Wood of Ilion lost control of his car and crashed into the trailer of a vehicle driven by Peter Martin of Little Falls.

Wood, Martin, and Wood's passenger, Kaylee Sponburgh were all taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where they are still being evaluated.

Van rollover crash injures several people

via MattarMedia BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) - Buffalo Police are investigating a roll-over crash in the city that injured several people.

Firefighters say the driver of a van with 12 people inside lost control Monday night, while rounding the on ramp to the 198 from the 33 and tipped over.

Most of the passengers were taken to either ECMC, Sisters or Women and Children's Hospital for treatment.

No one was seriously hurt.

Motorcycle and SUV Collide

via MattarMedia HAMBURG, NY (WIVB) One person was taken to the hospital by Mercy Flight after a motorcycle and SUV collided Friday morning.

The motorcycle operator, Travis Braun, 26, of Eggert Road was injured when his motorcycle struck the rear of an SUV that was traveling westbound and changing lanes from the I-90 passing lane into the driving lane.

Braun sustained head, internal and left arm injuries in the accident. He was airlifted by Mercy Flight to the Erie County Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.

The operator of the SUV was uninjured in the collision. The State Police are continuing their investigation into this accident.

The accident happened on the near the Hamburg exit of the I-90 just after 9am and snarled the morning traffic.

Drunk driver slams into car full of people

via MattarMedia DARIEN, NY (WIVB) - In Genessee County, a deadly chain of events unfolded Friday night.

Police say 24 year-old Ronald Wendt was drunk behind the wheel when he slammed into a car full of people on Harper Road in the Town of Darien.

18 year-old Katie Stanley, a passenger in that car full of people was killed after being thrown from the vehicle.

Investigator's say she wasn't wearing a seat-belt.

Wendt is now facing several charges including vehicular manslaughter and DWI.

Car crashes into house in 19th ward

via MattarMedia ROCHESTER, NY (WHEC) It was a Sunday evening surprise at a home in Rochester's 19th ward after a car crashed into a house on Penhurst Street, which is off Thurston Road. It happened just after 9 p.m.

The car hit the porch of the home and then another car in the driveway. Two people were taken to the hospital by ambulance. Police say their injuries aren't serious.

There is no word yet on any charges.

Car slams into crowd of people

via MattarMedia BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) - A car drove right into a crowd of people in Buffalo Saturday afternoon, injuring a young girl. Nearly 25 people including many children were getting ready for a neighborhood carnival on Genesee and Goodyear. All of a sudden, a man's car veered out of control, hitting everything in his path.

Sanora Moore pointed out the skid marks left behind by the driver. Moore said, "He came through the barricade. He came down the street. You can see the skid tire marks on the street."

The driver crashed through tables of food and hit two people, including Sanora Moore and Melissa Gravely's three-year-old niece. At one point, the two women tell News 4 he was driving on the sidewalk! Gravely said, "He stopped down there and then I was waving my hands like this to tell him not to come down."

But for some reason, the man just kept on driving and before she knew it, he was heading in their direction. Gravely said, "We were standing right here and then he stopped on the sidewalk and then he took off, then I jumped over there."
Gravely was hanging balloons with her niece for the neighborhood carnival.

Gravely said, "It was just a loud bang. And before I knew it, he just skid up and he actually knocked me and my niece but once I grabbed her, I tried to grab her and I flipped over there on the grass and before I knew it she was rolling up under the car." The white car eventually stopped after slamming into a utility pole, leaving nearly 25 people who were standing outside in disbelief.

Moore said, "I'm shaken up, I'm angry. He hit my niece she's now in Children's. Hopefully, she's okay." It turns out her three-year-old niece is okay. She suffered minor injuries. We don't have an update yet for the other victim. Police said the driver suffered a medical condition.

4 injured in Friday Verona crash

via MattarMedia VERONA, NY (UticaOD) Four people were injured Friday evening in a two-car crash at the intersection of state routes 31 and 46, state police in Oneida said Saturday.

Arthur A. Gumina, 90, of Old Farm Road, Verona, was westbound on Route 31 at about 7:41 p.m., police said. He attempted to make a left turn onto Route 46 and failed to yield the right of way to a vehicle eastbound on Route 31 that was operated by Edward F. Aubert, 62, of Ellis Ave, Whitesboro, police said.

The vehicles collided in the intersection and slid into a nearby guiderail, police said. Both drivers, along with two unidentified passengers in Aubert’s vehicle, were transported to Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, St. Luke’s campus, in New Hartford for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Gumina was ticketed on a charge of failing to yield the right of way on a left turn and is scheduled to appear at a later date in Verona Town Court.

Retired Trooper Charged in Fatal DWI Accident

via MattarMedia Rochester, NY (WHEC) Today News 10NBC uncovered exclusive new details in the case against a retired state trooper accused of driving drunk and killing a 90-year-old man. Frank Murray was involved in another accident two and a half hours before the deadly crash.

Every time retired state trooper Frank Murray walks into court, he holds his head high but every time one local family sees him, it brings back the pain they're going through.

“He had head trauma, concussion, slight bleeding of brain, broken ribs, collapsed lung and stitches to knee.” And the list of Ryan Sutter’s injuries goes on. Sutter's father is sick over the accident. His son was driving this motorcycle and crashed into Murray’s car less than three hours before police say Murray hit and killed Harry Thorton.

Rochester police blamed Sutter for the accident in their report, saying Sutter sped up to go through a yellow light on Exchange Street.

Murray was free to go and then just after 1:30 Sunday morning, police say he was legally drunk when he hit and killed Thornton, who was walking along Genesee Street.

Sutter's father says he just wants to see justice done. “If the accident was properly investigated, my son's accident, Mr. Murray may have been taken off road and the second accident may not have happened.”

Murray had a 0.08 BAC at the scene of the fatal crash, the second one. Rochester police say Murray seemed sober at the first crash but a witness on this report from the first crash told News 10NBC he didn't see Sutter speed up at the intersection. In fact, he said Sutter slowed down.

Murray's lawyer had no comment today. The investigation into the deadly accident will be presented to a grand jury next month.

Right now, Murray is only charged with a misdemeanor DWI.

New Hartford Car Accident Sends 3 to Hospital

via MattarMedia New Hartford, NY (WKTV) According to the New Hartford dispatch center, two cars "t-boned" at the intersection of Mohawk Street and Higby Road, around 8:15 Sunday morning.

Dispatchers say three injuries have been reported, and the jaws of life was needed to take at least one passenger out of the vehicle. The dispatcher says all three people were transported to the hospital.