Afternoon News Brief

Fatal crash in LeRoy

The investigation continues into what caused the crash that took the life of a Warsaw man. According to State Police, 66-year-old Duane Hamill was traveling on State Route 19 in LeRoy Saturday when he swerved into another lane, causing his vehicle to hit an SUV head-on. Hamill was ejected and later rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the other vehicle wasn’t seriously hurt and anyone who saw the accident can contact police. The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation are conducting the ongoing investigation.

Genesee County Sheriffs tell us that 35-year-old Adam Kopper of Batavia has been charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing $737.00 between July 13, 2022 and July 16, 2022 while employed by a retail store located on Veteran’s Memorial drive. He was arrested at this residence in the Town of Batavia and issued an appearance ticket. Kopper will appear in the Town of Batavia Court next month.

Hadi Matar

Some policy changes have been made at the Chautauqua Institution following the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie. Bags aren’t being allowed at the venue and all gate passes and tickets will now require identification. On Friday, the 75-year-old Rushdie was stabbed by 24-year-old Hadi Matar in what has been called a targeted, preplanned and unprovoked attack. The assault left Rushdie with several injuries and Matar has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including attempted murder. During a visit to the institute yesterday, Governor Hochul thanked the first responders who helped save Rushdie’s life and said the state will always stand up to protect freedom of expression and freedom of speech. Rushdie was taken off a ventilator over the weekend but was still being treated for injuries including three stab wounds to his neck, four stab wounds to his stomach, puncture wounds to his chest, and a laceration on his right thigh; it’s also possible Rushdie may lose his right eye as a result of the attack.

People who will be hitting the road this week are going to want to keep an extra close eye on their vehicle’s speedometer. That’s because police across the state will be increasing patrols through this Sunday in an effort to make sure everyone is following the correct speed limit. Preliminary data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College shows unsafe speed contributed to 353 deadly crashes last year, an 11-percent jump from 2020. During last year’s Speed Awareness Week, law enforcement gave out over 23-thousand speeding tickets.

The early voting period continues ahead of the upcoming August 23rd primary and the state Attorney General’s Office says its Election Protection Hotline is up and running. The hotline can be reached by calling 866-390-2992 and it will be available from 9am until 6pm through August 21st and from 6am until 9pm on primary day. Written requests for election-related help can also be submitted through a form that’s online. The AG’s office is reminding New Yorkers they have to right to vote free of intimidation and coercion. In Genesee County, the only early voting location is at the ARC Community Center at 38 Woodrow Road in Batavia. The hours vary each day so check the Genesee County Board of Elections page for early voting hours. Primary Day is Tuesday, August 23.

Western New York drivers are still seeing lower prices at the pump when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $4.45. That’s down eight cents in the past week and is 34 cents less than this time last month. Currently, the state average is $4.34 a gallon while nationally it’s $3.96. In Batavia, the average price per gallon this morning was $4.40, down 28 cents from a month ago today.

The USS The Sullivans – file photo

For the first time in several months, the USS The Sullivans is once again open for tours. The vessel was damaged back in April following a massive hull breach that caused the ship to fill with thousands of gallons of water. In a statement, officials with the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park thanked everyone who has stepped up to help make the necessary repairs. The boat is named after the five Sullivan brothers who served our country during World War Two. For touring hours and more information, visit buffalonavalpark.org.

With the number of drug overdoses rising across the Empire State each day, action is being taken to try and save people’s lives. Starting today, naloxone can be dispensed at pharmacies in New York without a prescription under an order issued by state Health Commissioner Doctor Mary Bassett. Naloxone is used to block the effects of opioids and helps a person regain consciousness and resume regular breathing if they’ve overdosed. New Yorkers who are struggling with addiction can get assistance by calling the state’s 24-hour hotline at 1-877-846-7369.