Two drivers were transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital following a two car motor vehicle collision on Hermitage Road at Wethersfield Road in the Town of Wethersfield on July 1, 2020.
Following an initial investigation, it was found that James T. Palmateer, 24, of Holland, NY, had been operating a blue 1994 Chevrolet Camaro eastbound on Wethersfield Road at a high rate of speed when he failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection with Hermitage Road.
Palmateer drove eastbound through the intersection striking a white 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, which was traveling northbound on Hermitage Road. The 2016 Silverado became airborne after the collision, overturned, and landed on top of an uninvolved parked vehicle in the driveway at the northeast corner of the intersection. The 1994 Camaro spun multiple times before coming to a rest in the same driveway.
The drivers of both vehicles were the sole occupants, and both drivers were transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital. Both drivers suffered serious injuries which were not believed to be life threatening.
The Wyoming County Crash Management Team responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing, and criminal charges remain pending the outcome of the investigation.
Contributing factors to the collision were determined to be reckless operation and speeding by Palmateer.
At the scene were the following agencies:
Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office and Crash Management Team
New York State Police
Gainesville Fire Department
Warsaw Fire Department
Wyoming County Emergency Services
Mercy Flight 5 and Mercy Flight 8
Wyoming County Highway Department
Monroe Ambulance – Medic 82
Ott’s Collision Service