The New Hartford Police Department responded to a single car motor vehicle crash Saturday afternoon that sent two people to the Hospital with injuries. The accident occurred on State Route 8 South at the Campion Rd. exit just South of the Utica City Line.
According to Police, the collision occurred around 2:35 pm, when a vehicle being operated by Kevin D. Blackshear, age 54 of Utica, failed to negotiate the right turn onto the exit ramp, due to the speed the vehicle was being operated. According to Witnesses the vehicle overturned several times after leaving the roadway and ultimately came to rest on its passenger side in the rear parking lot of the New Hartford Post Office. Two passengers in the vehicle were transported to the Hospital with injuries, Christina M. Teller, age 32 and Tracy A. Gregory, age 44; both of Utica.
During the investigation it was learned that Teller and Gregory were involved in a larceny from the Walmart Supercenter on Commercial Dr. in the Town of New Hartford moments before the collision took place. Both were charged with Petit Larceny and issued appearance tickets at the Hospital. Blackshear was issued citations for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the Third Degree, Failure to Surrender a Suspended License, Failure to Maintain Lane and Reckless Driving. After being issued the citations Blackshear was turned over to the Utica Police Department on an active warrant. The incident is still under investigation by the New Hartford Police Department. The New Hartford Fire Department, Edward’s Ambulance and Kunkel Ambulance assisted police at the scene.