Lackawanna, NY (Oct. 26, 2026) – A Hamburg ambulance driver was pinned inside the vehicle and had to be extricated after a three-vehicle crash on Route 5 in Lackawanna, according to officials.
Crews were called to the crash at about 2:40 p.m. on October 26. The Lackawanna Fire Department extricated the driver, officials said. Both Hamburg EMS crew members were taken to Erie County Medical Center and were discharged later that day.
Three people from the other two vehicles were also taken to hospitals, according to officials. Route 5 between Tifft Street and Dona Street was closed for about an hour.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
When an Ambulance Is Involved: Liability in a New York Multi-Vehicle Crash
A crash with several vehicles can involve several responsible parties, and who they are depends on how the vehicles came together. Investigators typically look at speed, right-of-way, signals, and following distance for every driver. When an ambulance is one of the vehicles, whether it was responding to an emergency also matters.
New York gives authorized emergency vehicles certain traffic privileges during an emergency response, but those privileges do not excuse reckless disregard for the safety of others (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1104). The information released so far does not say whether the ambulance was on an emergency run. That detail, and who operates the ambulance, can change which rules and deadlines apply.
People hurt in any of the vehicles may have personal injury claims. EMS crew members hurt on the job may also have workers’ compensation benefits alongside claims against other drivers.
- Who may be liable: any driver whose conduct contributed to the crash, and the owner or operator of a vehicle, including a public or private ambulance service.
- If fault is shared: under CPLR § 1411(b), as amended in 2026, a motor vehicle injury claim is barred when the injured person’s fault equals or exceeds the combined fault of the defendants. Otherwise, damages are reduced by that person’s share.
- Government notice: if a municipality or other public entity is a defendant, a notice of claim is generally due within 90 days (General Municipal Law § 50-e), which puts the deadline at January 24, 2027.
- Filing deadline: New York allows three years from the crash to file a personal injury claim (CPLR § 214), which is October 26, 2029.
How Stanley Law Helps After a Personal Injury Crash in Upstate New York
After a multi-vehicle crash in Lackawanna, insurer calls, medical bills, and paperwork can pile up while you are still healing. Stanley Law Offices takes that work off your plate. Our Upstate NY personal injury lawyers investigate how the crash happened, calculate what your injuries will cost over time, and negotiate with every insurer involved.
If an offer falls short, we are prepared to take the case to trial. Joe Stanley, who founded the firm in 1982, is Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy.
Before you choose a firm for a personal injury claim after a multi-vehicle crash near Buffalo, here is what Stanley Law Offices brings to your case:
- Serving Upstate New York families for 45+ years
- Joe Stanley, Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy
- Super Lawyers recognition for 18+ consecutive years
- 4.7-star rating across 900+ verified reviews
- Offices in Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, Watertown, Oneonta, and Montrose, PA
- Available 24/7
- No recovery, no fee
Our Rochester office at 510 Clinton Square, Rochester, NY 14604 is the closest to Lackawanna, and virtual consultations are available. Call 888-997-3889, visit the office, or send us the details through our contact form.
