Manlius, NY (August 12, 2026) – The Manlius Police Department responded to a four-vehicle crash on Route 290, also known as Green Lakes Road, near Kinderhook Road at approximately 12:14 p.m. on August 12, according to a department statement.
Officers determined that 79-year-old Floyd Smith, of Canastota, was driving eastbound in a red Ford F150 when he crossed over a double solid line and struck a trailer that was being towed with a shed on board. The impact set off a chain-reaction crash involving four cars, police said. Route 290 was closed for over an hour while officers worked the scene.
No injury information has been released. The investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents on Route 290 in Onondaga County, New York
Crossing a double solid center line is one of the clearest fault indicators in a traffic crash investigation. New York law prohibits crossing a solid double yellow line, and doing so into oncoming traffic places the crossing driver at the center of any liability review. When that initial impact triggers a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles, more than one insurer may be involved, and the process of assigning fault becomes more complex.
In a four-car collision, the injured parties in every vehicle may have claims. Steps that protect those claims from the earliest hours:
- Get evaluated by a doctor promptly, even if you left the scene on your own and felt fine. Soft-tissue injuries, spinal disc damage, and concussions from chain-reaction crashes often produce no immediate symptoms. An early medical record documents the connection between the crash and any injury that appears in the days after.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. When multiple vehicles and multiple carriers are involved, adjusters from several companies may reach out quickly. Each is trying to protect their insured, not you.
- Save every photo, video, and dashcam clip from the scene. Physical evidence and footage from any nearby businesses or traffic monitoring systems along Route 290 can be requested now but not a month later.
- Do not sign any release or accept a first settlement offer. An early offer typically reflects what the insurer wants to pay to close the file, not what the full cost of the injury will be over time.
New York follows a pure comparative fault standard. In a multi-vehicle crash, insurers may attempt to distribute fault across several drivers to reduce their individual exposure. An attorney builds the factual record that reflects where fault actually sits.
Under New York law, the general deadline to file a personal injury claim is three years from the date of the crash (CPLR § 214). The crash occurred on August 12, 2026, which puts the general deadline at August 12, 2029.
Contact Our Upstate New York Car Accident Attorneys
A four-car crash with a road closure draws multiple insurers into the picture fast. Having an attorney involved at the same stage puts someone on your side before the claims process is shaped without your input.
Our car accident attorneys serving Upstate New York have handled chain-reaction crashes where fault was contested across multiple parties. We know how to document the evidentiary record when several insurers are working to limit their clients’ exposure, and we work on your timeline, not theirs.
Traffic camera footage from the Route 290 and Kinderhook Road corridor and the physical evidence from the scene are being reviewed now. Acting quickly keeps access to that material open.
No upfront cost. No fees unless we recover for you.
Why Upstate New York families trust Stanley Law Offices:
- 90+ years of combined legal experience
- Joe Stanley, Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA)
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