Three injured in head-on crash
By CHRIS KNIGHT, Enterprise Senior Staff WriterArticle Photos
SARANAC LAKE - Three people were injured, one seriously, in a two-car, head-on collision that took place just outside the village of Saranac Lake early this afternoon.
The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. on state Route 3 between Grove Street and Trudeau Road, in front of the office of Edenfield and Snow Tax and Accounting Services.
Two vehicles were involved: a gray Chevrolet HHR and a maroon Ford sport utility vehicle, both of which sustained heavy front end damage in the collision.
The drivers of the vehicles, both of which were women, were pinned inside and had to be extricated by Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department members.
The driver of the Chevy, who had more serious injuries, was airlifted to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt. by a North Country Life Flight helicopter, which landed in the middle of state Route 3.
Two people were taken by ambulance to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, according to state police investigator Steve Ansari. He said both drivers and a passenger in one of the vehicles suffered leg and lower extremity injuries.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, Ansari said.
Ben Edenfield, of Edenfield and Snow Tax Accounting Services, was standing in the back of his office talking to a coworker when they heard the crash. He said it sounded "awful."
"It was just a loud, instant crash," he said. "I was in a car accident once so it's a sound you never forget."
Edenfield said he immediately called 911, although the accident had already been reported by another driver.
"Then we just came out here to do what we could and see if there was anything they needed," he said. "All they really needed was somebody to keep talking to them and try to keep them calm."
"They were uncomfortable," said William Sweeney, a certified public accountant who works in the same building. "One was in really bad pain."
Traffic was detoured off of state Route 3 at its intersection with Pine Street in the village, and at Trudeau Road, during the incident.
State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain said at 2:30 p.m. that the road could be closed for at least two hours as police continue their investigation at the scene.
The Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service also responded to the call.
---
Contact Chris Knight at 891-2600 ext. 24 or cknight@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpaces
|
cd1lax13
|
|
|---|---|
|
07-20-10 12:25 AM
|
I am Jen's brother, Chris Dupree. I just spent the entire day up in Burlington at the hospital. Jen (who is 30 not 20.) In my mind she is in serious but stable condition. She has some broken bones, compound fracture to her elbow, as of right now my unborn nephew/niece is fine, she has no internal injuries as of right now, many cuts and bruises, some pain in her hands/wrists she is waiting to go through her first set of surgeries tonight. Jen has great support from her family and her friends. I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Please remember this is a very serious accident and at times we still need our privacy. Jen would love to be able to see all of her facebook messages you have all left her! Again, thank you all for the support. I will try to keep you updated with more info at a later time...
|
|
poolman137
|
|
|
07-19-10 9:17 PM
|
I hope that all of the people involved ( including the unborn child) make full recoveries..... GOD BLESS you all!
|
|
cknight27
|
|
|
07-19-10 8:23 PM
|
Here's an update. This is from a state police news release issued this evening. New York State Police are investigating a two-car motor vehicle collision that occurred on Monday afternoon on State Route 3 just outside the Village of Saranac Lake. At approximately 1:25 P.M., Tricia Brassard, age 41, of Ellenburg Center, was traveling west on State Route 3 in a 2006 Ford Freestar when she collided with a 2006 Chevrolet HHR being operated by Jennifer Riley, age 20, of Saranac Lake. Both drivers were extricated from their vehicles by Saranac Lake and Bloomingdale Fire Departments. Riley, who is pregnant, was airlifted to Fletcher Allen Health Care for treatment of leg injuries and abdominal pain. Brassard was transported to Adirondack Medical Center for treatment of leg injuries and her passenger, Matthew Brassard, age 46, was treated and released at the scene. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. We'll have more on this story in tomorrow's paper. Chris Knight
|