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Police Respond To At Least 90 Accidents Due To Weather

Snow-covered roads and a slew of car accidents have kept police and emergency officials on their toes.

According to Joe Gerace, Chautauqua County sheriff, deputies responded to a total of 51 weather-related incidents between Thursday and Friday — 21 property damage accidents, four personal injury accidents and 26 complaints involving vehicles off the road or stuck in a ditch.

Gerace said a major wrinkle occurred near the intersection of North Maple Avenue and Route 394 in Ashville, where multiple tractor-trailers ended up blocking the roadway after getting stuck on the hill.

“(Drivers) need to make sure their cars are equipped for winter,” Gerace said.

“The big factor is slowing down, give yourself plenty of time to move into intersections … and turn on your headlights,” Gerace said.

Other agencies were also busy Thursday and Friday.

Captain Eric J. Balon of the New York State Police said Troopers responded to nearly 20 weather-related accidents Thursday afternoon.

While the majority were fender benders and cars off the road, a few involved minor injuries, Balon said.

John Bentley, Lakewood-Busti police chief, said his officers responded to about a dozen accidents.

“A lot of trucks get hung up on Big Tree Road and Baker Street where they come in to the town of Busti,” Bentley said. “They come up from the south and the drivers are not very experienced winter drivers. That causes problems and we have traffic tie-ups.”

Bentley said accidents are largely due to drivers who seemingly forget how to drive in winter conditions.

“People drive too fast and they don’t slow down and take time to think through what they’re doing,” he said. “People also pull out in front of others, not giving the respect for the distance there’s slippery conditions.”

Accidents were less common in other areas, as the Ellicott police only responded to seven calls of service — five traffic accidents and two vehicles that were hampering traffic on Route 60

Ellicott police said one personal injury accident occurred near Fairmount Avenue and Warwick Road on Thursday afternoon. A driver was taken to WCA Hospital for minor back pain.

According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, a Lake Effect Snow Warning remains in effect for Chautauqua County until 6 p.m. today.

A 90 percent chance of precipitation and an additional four to seven inches of accumulation is projected.

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