ROYALTON — Two truckers narrowly escaped what could have been a fatal collision Tuesday morning.
Just after 8 a.m., two semis collided almost head-on at Gasport and Chestnut Ridge roads, leaving one truck twisted and mangled, on its side in the front yard of a home.
“This is something we don’t see very often,” said Terry’s Corners Third Assistant Chief Dan Hausman of the scene.
The first truck, a Ryder rented out of Buffalo or Rochester, was apparently headed south on Gasport Road and was stopped at the traffic light. When the light turned green, the truck entered the intersection and was hit by the second truck, registered to Cox Transportation Company in Ashland, Va., which was traveling east on Chestnut Ridge Road.
“It was kind of a careening-type blow,” Niagara County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chris Carlin said. “It wasn’t a total head-on, but it was more of almost a T-bone collision.”
The collision ripped open the trailer of the Cox Transportation truck, sending its cargo — eight 5,000-pound rolls of paper — careening into the road.
The Cox truck slid off the road on its side and struck a tree in front of 7974 Chestnut Ridge Road, nicking a telephone pole on the corner. Nobody was in that house at the time, Carlin said.
The driver of the Ryder truck, David Mancuso of Silver Springs, was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC with head and internal injuries and possible broken bones. Carlin said Mancuso’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Mancuso was listed in fair condition at ECMC on Tuesday afternoon.
The driver of the Cox Transportation truck, David Pannell of Richmond, Va., was taken by ground ambulance to Lockport Memorial Hospital. Carlin said Panell’s injuries were “minor.”
Carlin said the accident could have been a lot worse, especially if other vehicles had been involved.
“Just by the looks of it, you’d think somebody died,” he said. “It’s a good thing there was nobody sitting at this light ... if you had a car or a family in a car sitting right there, especially with those big rolls of paper flying out there.”
Emergency personnel worked into Tuesday afternoon cleaning up the scene while the Niagara County Accident Reconstruction Unit began to piece together what happened.
Terry’s Corners led the scene, assisted by Gasport and South Lockport fire companies.
Both trucks’ fuel tanks ruptured, spilling about 100 gallons of diesel fuel into the road, over the front lawn of the house and into the storm sewer.
James Volkosh, Niagara County’s emergency services director, said the health department and county Hazmat crews were working to clean up the fuel as quick as possible.
“The front yard, where it’s already absorbed into the ground, you’ll wind up digging that up,” Volkosh said. “We do eventually want to get into that house and just make sure there’s nothing wrong inside the house.”
Terry’s Corners First Assistant Chief Chris McClune said it would take “a lot of hard work and a couple of large wreckers” to get the debris off the road.
“It’s a mess,” McClune said. “We’re doing our best to clean things up.”
Vaughn Gursslin, a retired trucker, heard about the accident on the radio and went to the scene.
“I don’t know how they even survived,” he said. “To see a tractor literally twisted like a pretzel is horrible.”
Volkosh agreed that both truckers were lucky to escape with their lives.
“It could have been a double fatality,” he said. “You’re taking two vehicles that have got a lot of weight behind them, hitting fairly close to head-on. When you’ve got that kind of force involved, anything can happen.”
Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
COLLISION: Drivers recovering after morning wreck in Royalton
- Local News
-
-
Giving new life to the Diana
An effort that started four years ago is now nearing completion to get the marquee and the lights turned back on and the curtain raised for a new multi-purpose community entertainment center usage for the historic Diana theater building.
-
Nothing to wine about
The third time was the charm for Wine About Winter, which brought hundreds of residents and visitors to downtown businesses and organizations and showcased a variety of local wines Saturday.
-
Stop and Shop opens
The East Center Street Stop ‘N Shop is one of 27 Medina businesses hosting wine tastings Saturday during Wine About Winter, and the new store will offer much more when customers come back to shop.
-
Showcase event
Wine About Winter, which is being held from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, brings hundreds of residents and visitors into downtown Medina, but local stores aren’t they only area businesses being showcased this weekend.
-
Uniform Processing uses technology to help lenders, borrowers reach alternatives.
An Albion company uses computer technology to help clear up confusing mortgage transactions.
-
Parties nominate in Albion contests
The Albion Democratic and Republican party caucuses held meetings to nominate candidates for two positions on the village board Tuesday, but the evening ended with only two candidates and some disappointment in the lack of interest in local government.
-
Local leaders have power lunch
Business owners and elected officials gathered Friday at the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative luncheon to discuss the current business climate and look ahead to the legislation that could help or hinder the local economy.
-
Prepared patriots
At mobilization ceremonies across the state this weekend, hundreds of servicemen from the Army National Guard were cheered on their way to training for a possible overseas deployment.
-
A church’s rebirth
The members of the Medina United Methodist Church plan to celebrate the rebirth of their community at this year’s Easter Mass, which church leaders said could be held at the partially constructed facility that will soon be the church’s home.
-
Legislature OKs terms for property sale
The Orleans County Legislature approved a set of terms Wednesday on the proposed sale of a vacant Medina property that was once a Jubilee grocery store to Zor Inc., a holding company affiliated with Evans Ace Hardware.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
