On Tuesday, February 12th, at approximately 4:45 PM, the Ithaca Police
Department was called to respond to a serious motor vehicle accident which
occurred at the intersection of S. Meadow St. (NYS Rt. 13 N) and W. Green
St. (NYS Rt. 79 E). The accident was reported to have involved at least
one vehicle which had rolled over onto its top.
Upon arrival, officers observed a maroon Ford Sport Utility style pick up
truck inverted, which had come to rest on its roof, facing southbound
(against the flow of traffic) just north of the intersection. Another
involved vehicle, a Chevy Cobalt, was found to have sustained significant
damages and had come to rest east of the intersection, with debris from
both vehicles littered throughout the intersection and surrounding area.
The operator of the Ford SUV/pick up, a 64 year old female from
Slaterville, NY, was entrapped inside the vehicle upon officers’ arrival.
The Ithaca Police Department assisted the Ithaca Fire Department and Bangs
Ambulance personnel as they worked to extricate and treat the operator
from the inverted vehicle.
A portion of the Ithaca Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team was
called to the scene as it appeared that there was high probability of
serious physical injury. A Guthrie Air helicopter was also summoned.
Northbound traffic on NYS Route 13 (S. Meadow St.) at the intersection
with NYS Rt. 79 E (W. Green St.) was completely shut down and detoured
east for over an hour and a half, during the rush hour time period, as
emergency responders worked to free the operator from the inverted
vehicle, treat her injuries, investigate the circumstances of the
accident, and clean up the roadway allowing for safe travel.
The helicopter response was cancelled after some time as injuries did not
appear to be of a serious nature and the driver of the Ford SUV/pick up
was transported to Robert Packard Hospital in Sayre, PA by Bangs Ambulance
for evaluation and treatment. No serious injuries were believed to have
been sustained by the operator.
The operator of the Chevy Cobalt, a 24 year old male from Candor, NY, was
evaluated on scene by Bangs Ambulance personnel and was not transported to
the hospital for treatment.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the Ford SUV/pick up passed a
red light while headed northbound on Rt. 13, causing a right angle type
collision as the Chevy Cobalt traveled eastbound on Rt. 79.
No charges have been filed at this time as the accident is still under
investigation.
