Island Dispatch, 1998-01-30

              Island DISPATCH  January 30,1998 28 Pages Plus The Bridge Vol. 541 No. 41 Immm Monday Ntte MadnewH LARGE CHEESE PIZZA 4-95 (£|ZZX?SUBS) Official Newspaper for the Town of Grand Island & the Grand Island School District (716) 773-7676 w A years "As the voice of Grand Island* """^ U-turn onto bridge in wrong direction almost causes accident by Christopher Caile A accident on Grand Island's northbound Grand Island bridge was almost compounded into a tragedy Friday morning when an elderly Youngstown women drove her car across the median of the 190 and continued off the Island over the southbound bridge going in the v,Tong direction. The incident began after Grand Island's northbound bridge became blocked by an accident involving a tractor-trailer and backhoe. After traffic backed up, Gladys Tooke, 74, of Youngstown, left the northbound lane and turned her car across the median onto the southbound lane. She then continued up the southbound bridge in the wrong direction toward Niagara Falls. State Trooper William Conway stopped Tooke at the top of the bridge just after she almost collided with a car coming in the other direction. She was instructed to make a U-turn to return to the Island in the right direction but took off. Conray pursued with sirens wailing and lights flashing. After speeding off the bridge, Tooke then turned across the meridian onto the northbound lane, now going in the right direction, and exited at Packard Lane. She was finally cut off and stopped by the State and Town of Niagara Police in the parking lot of St. Leo's Catholic Church on Military Road. Tooke was charged with driving the wrong way on a one way street, failure to comply with orders of a police officer, speeding, failure to obey a traffic control device and two red light violations at the 190 intersections at Porter and Military Roads. Tooke was released into the custody of her daughter who took her to an area hospital for medical evaluation. Citizens of the Year banquet to be held The 32nd Annual Awards Banquet honoring the Grand Island Citizens of the Year will be held on Apr. 2 at the Buffalo Launch Club. The event, sponsored by the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, will honor GI residents who have made the Island a better place to live. Members of the community are asked to submit letters of recommendation for individuals who have contributed to any of the following areas: business, government, retail, industry, education, community service, performing arts, civic, senior citizens, recreation, religion and service to youth. Letters from Crash injures 2, closes North Grand Island Bridge by Christopher Caile A tractor-trailer crossing the north Grand Island Bridge Friday morning first collided with a slow moving backhoe in the right lane before careening into the left guard railing. The backhoe was thrown into the right side guard railing. Both drivers received minor injuries in the crash that also damaged two sections of the bridge's guard rail and spilled diesel and hydraulic fluid. The accident closed the northbound bridge to traffic for about three hours. Vehicles became backed up for miles before State Police besan diverting traffic off the 1-90. Cars near the bridge were allowed to U-turn back toward the Island. The accident happened about 10 a.m. when Philip Dempsey, 45, of Brockton was driving his tractortrailer up the right lane of the northbound bridge toward Niagara Falls. He did not notice a slow moving backhoe in the same lane driven by Dean Fike, 38 of Market Street, Lewiston. Not able to stop in time, the truck tried to swerve into the other lane but still hit the backhoe from behind. The backhoe was knocked into the guard-railing on the right side while the tractor-trailer continued across the left lane crashing into the left guard rail before coming to rest. Fike suffered a broken elbow and facial lacerations. Dempsey received a bruised knee. Both were transported to Kenmore Mercy Hospital and released after treatment. Fike was later charged with driving an unregistered vehicle as well as impeding traffic by driving too slow. Dempsey was charged with following another vehicle too closely. The bridge also suffered structural damage. Six sections of the left guard rail were bent outward, their base torn away where they meet the reinforced concrete roadway. A portion of right guard rail also became bowed outward. Grand Island firefighters where also on the scene. According to Ray E:\V LIGHT POLES INSTALLED ON WHITEHAVEN - The /n hoped they would be up for Christmas but the new light poles are now t being installed on Whitehaven in front of town hall. Niagara Mohawk 3 had to run power to the poles, (by Christopher Caile) ACCIDENT CLOSES BRIDGE - A tractor-trailor collision with a backhoe or» the north Grand lalaxvd. br&sfs last Prlday mondng t.»»iv»» vw v> ms~a. closed the bridge to traffic for several hours. BRIDGE SUFFERS MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE - Seven railing supports on the left side of Grand Island's north bridge were torn away from their roadway mountings as a result of an accident Friday morning. Thruway crews worked around the clock until Sunday afternoon to fix the problem. continued on page 9 continued on page 7