On October 1, 2019, at approximately 5:09 PM, the New Hartford Police Department responded to a three car motor vehicle accident on Commercial Drive in front of the Consumer Square shopping plaza. The operator of one of the vehicles, Norbert Kupiec, age 74, of New York Mills, appeared to have suffered some type of medical emergency while operating his vehicle, incapacitating him. As a result, Kupiec’s vehicle collided at speed, with the rear of a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche pickup being operated by James Bray, age 70, of Constableville. After the initial collision, Kupiec’s vehicle continued underneath Bray’s, becoming lodged completely underneath Bray’s, leaving Bray’s vehicle teetering precariously on the roof of Kupiec’s vehicle. The force of the collision also resulted in Bray’s vehicle being pushed into the rear of a third vehicle being operated by L.A. Berattamandronic, age 61, of New Hartford. Both Bray and Berattamandronic were stopped in traffic at the time of the collision. All three vehicles were required to be towed from the scene.
Kupiec was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other operators and occupants of their vehicles did not complain of injury. No tickets have been issued and the incident is still under investigation.
New Hartford Police were assisted at the scene by members of the New York Mills Fire Department, Edwards Ambulance and Midland Collision.