Weather A Factor In Rollover Accident

 

Via MattarMedia - Erie County Sheriff Deputies are investigating a rollover accident that happened Monday in Alden.

The accident happened on Walden Avenue.

Deputies say the 61-year-old driver, Donald Daniel of Buffalo, was taken to ECMC with head and neck injuries. He is in stable condition.

Investigators believe weather conditions may have played a role in the accident.

New state law changes rules for teen drivers

Via MattarMedia SYRACUSE, N.Y. - There's a reason they call it "sweet 16." As you step closer to adulthood, part of that independence means getting behind the wheel, but it's about to get much harder for teens to cruise off once they blow out those birthday candles.


New York is putting a brake on that urge with a new law that kicks in on Monday. There's now a six month waiting period to take a road test if you're applying for a learner's permit. Teens must also log 50 hours of supervised driving.

"The majority of fatalities in teen crashes are those other than the teens so this is not just geared toward teen driver safety. It will be a benefit to all drivers and roadway users as a whole,” said Diana Dibble, AAA Public Affairs Manager.

New York already has a graduated driver's license system in place, which includes a mandatory defensive driving course, but many felt it could be better.

"Maybe with some longer driving sessions, with family and things of that nature and driving schools, they will see how dangerous it can be if they're trying to text and things of that nature where if a person gets their license right away, they may still be fairly uninformed,” said Jeffrey Baird, Able II Driving President.

In addition to requiring more experience, this new law is specifically looking to eliminate that kind of distracted driving. All electronics are banned and teens can now have only one non-family member with them in the car. Though this last point may be the most dreaded, this group of young drivers admit it may be necessary.

"I'll probably be left out in the cold because I've been bumming rides off my friends for a while and I'm sure they'll be happy to get rid of me,” said Paul O'Donnell, learner's permit driver.

"When you get a group of three or four teenagers in a car at a time, there's a lot of conversation and gossip going on I guess and it can be distracting definitely,” said Erin Callahan, learner's permit driver.

Other states that have implemented similar laws have seen a reduction in fatal crashes in 38%.

Buckle Your Belt! You Might Win a FREE Laptop Computer

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One hurt in rollover crash

Via MattarMedia MANLIUS, N.Y. - Crews are on the scene of a serious accident in Manlius. It happened at about 7:30 Thursday morning at the intersection of Route 92 and Oran Delphi road.

We're told one person involved in the accident suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized.

Train hits disabled Cadillac on tracks

Via MattarMedia - A driver nearly missed being struck by a freight train in Chautauqua County.

State Police say James Spiller changed lanes and became stuck on the tracks in the town of Pomfret Tuesday night. Police say when he got out of the car and called 911, a CSX train came through and pushed his Cadillac more than a mile down the tracks.

Troopers ticketed Spiller for unsafe lane moving.

WNY man makes wrong turn onto tracks, car hit by train

Via MattarMedia POMFRET - State police say a western New York man has escaped injury after mistakenly driving onto railroad tracks where his car was struck by a freight train and pushed more than a mile.

Troopers say 38-year-old James Spiller of Dunkirk was crossing the tracks in the Chautauqua County town of Pomfret around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when he became confused and turned onto the rails.

The car became lodged and Spiller called 911 to report his predicament.

Troopers say soon afterward, a CSX freight train traveling at 60 mph struck Spiller's Cadillac and pushed it more than a mile down the tracks before stopping.

Police ticketed Spiller for moving from a lane unsafely and obstructing a railroad crossing.

Car Crash Leads to Unusual Arrest

Via MattarMedia - A car crash on Monday on Rochester's north side has resulted in an unusual arrest.

Two days prior, 45-year-old Luevirgia Jones-Wright allegedly lied to police, and told them that her car, that she just bought, had been stolen.

Jones-Wright said she was in Greece when a man knocked her to the ground, kicked her in the stomach, and drove off with her new purchase, a 2002 Cadillac Deville. According to the Greece Police Department, officers activated the GPS system, and reported it stolen.

On Monday, the car was located in Rochester, and the suspects in the car fled when police tried to pull the car over. That led to a crash on Joseph Avenue.

After investigating, police found out that the suspects had permission to drive the car from Jones-Wright's husband, and the car was never in fact stolen. Police said Jones-Wright later admitted that the robbery never happened.

Jones-Wright is charged with falsely reporting an incident. She's supposed to appear in court in Greece on February 24th.

Some Towns Won't Cover Property Damage By Snowplows

Via MattarMedia - In the winter season we're thankful when a snowplow comes through and clears our street. But what happens if the plow hits and damages our property? Well, some towns won't cover the costs.

Ruby Skroback lives in the Town of Allegany and says she has parked her vehicles along the road in front of her house for 60 years. But last month her car was hit by a town snowplow. "He got my tail light, and the back panel, and my door," Skroback said.

A week after the incident, she and her daughter received a letter saying the town wouldn't cover the cost. "I pay the $500 deductible out of my own pocket. I don't have money for that," Skroback said. "What bothers me is {the town's} insurance won't take care of it... this will raise my insurance."

Allegany Town Supervisor Pat Eaton says the current insurance policies show the town isn't liable. And he says there have only been two snowplow related accidents in the area in 25 years. "The law is and the company's policy is when you're plowing during snow removal it's in essence a snow emergency. And whatever accidents occur, the town is not liable," Eaton said. "We're sympathetic towards these people, we really are but we don't want to start gifting taxpayers' money. When the insurance company says 'no we're not gonna pay' and the law says 'you don't have to pay' and when towns start paying, you're in a gray area now because you're gifting taxpayers' money."

In several larger cities including Buffalo, the policies are different. Snowplow accidents are treated like any other accident. If an investigation shows the city snowplow driver was at fault, then the city's insurance covers damages.

Woman charged under Leandra's Law

Via MattarMedia BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. - A driver stopped for a seat belt violation ends up charged under the new Leandra's Law.

Sheriff's deputies say they pulled Jennifer Kriebel, of Binghamton, over in Union for not wearing a seat belt. They then say they realized she was driving under the influence with a toddler in the vehicle.

Kriebel is facing a number of charges, including felony DWI and endangering the welfare of a child. She was issued a ticket to reappear in court.

The child was released to a family friend.

Woman Pinned Between Cars Expected To Recover

MattarMedia (BATAVIA NY) A bizarre car crash in Batavia early Tuesday morning left a young woman with two broken legs and another young woman with a neck injury.

That's according to police in Batavia, who said that the crash happened on Main Street in front of the YMCA around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.

A car driven by 19-year-old Pearl Jefferson of Rochester became disabled. Jefferson called a friend, 19-year-old Megan McClurg of Perry, for help. Both are students at Genesee Community College.

Jefferson was at the wheel and McClurg was pushing the disabled car when a minivan struck the car. McClurg was pinned between the cars for about half a block. The minivan was driven by 21-year-old Brandon Gendron of Oakfield, who was not injured.

On Tuesday, McClurg was listed in satisfactory condition at Strong Hospital. Police said she was conscious and alert. Jefferson suffered a neck injury and facial fractures. She has since been released.

Police said that alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

source: WROC-TV