A snow squall caused chaos on the New York State Thruway in Batavia on Thursday afternoon, resulting in multiple collisions involving approximately 40 vehicles, including both commercial trucks and passenger cars.
The crashes occurred on the westbound lanes near Exit 48, with four individuals taken to Erie County Medical Center and two others transported to United Memorial Medical Center-Batavia for minor injuries. At the same time, over a dozen vehicles were involved in separate minor crashes on the eastbound lanes, prompting a temporary diversion at Exit 48A.
Cleanup and recovery took several hours, with multiple tow trucks removing damaged vehicles and clearing the roadway.
The State Police thanked all responders who assisted at the scene, including Pembroke Fire and EMS, the Genesee County Office of Emergency Operations, and the NYS Thruway Authority Maintenance teams.
Motorists are reminded to exercise caution during sudden weather changes, especially during snow squalls that can reduce visibility and make road conditions hazardous.
