Ontario, NY (August 12, 2026) – A 28-year-old driver from Penfield was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation after a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of State Route 104 and Furnace Road in the Town of Ontario left another driver dead, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the scene at approximately 6:20 a.m. on August 12. Investigators determined that Richard Curran, 80, of Tempe, Arizona, was traveling westbound on Route 104 when he attempted to turn south onto Furnace Road. His vehicle turned into the path of the oncoming eastbound car, according to the sheriff’s office.
Curran was pronounced dead at the scene. The Penfield driver, whose name has not been released by authorities, was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Both vehicles were towed and impounded as part of the ongoing investigation. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details while the investigation continues.
What to Do After a Fatal Car Accident in Wayne County, New York
When a driver turns across the path of oncoming traffic, New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law places responsibility on that driver to yield. Under VTL § 1141, a driver making a left turn must yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is close enough to create a hazard. A failure to yield before turning onto Furnace Road is a fault indicator that investigators and attorneys examine first in a crash like this one.
After a collision at this intersection, several steps protect a claim:
- Get a full medical evaluation now, even if you were treated at the hospital and released. Injuries to the spine, neck, and brain can appear stable in the hours after a crash but worsen significantly within days. A thorough record from the start protects the claim and your health.
- Do not speak with the at-fault driver’s insurance company before consulting an attorney. Carriers representing a driver’s estate move quickly to document the other party’s statements. A single recorded comment can be used to reduce a valid claim.
- Preserve everything from the scene. Photos of both vehicles, photos of the intersection, and any dashcam footage should be saved immediately. Security and traffic camera footage from the Route 104 and Furnace Road area may be overwritten within days without a formal preservation request.
- Do not accept any settlement offer before understanding the full extent of your injuries. An early offer from an insurer is designed to close the claim before long-term medical costs are known, not to account for them.
New York follows a pure comparative fault standard, meaning any share of fault attributed to the injured driver reduces but does not eliminate a potential recovery. Insurance adjusters often attempt to assign partial responsibility to the other driver even when the fault picture is clear. An attorney builds the evidentiary record that keeps the injured party’s share as low as the facts support.
The family of a person killed in a crash may also have a separate wrongful death claim under New York’s EPTL § 5-4.1. That claim carries a two-year filing deadline from the date of death. For a fatality that occurred on August 12, 2026, that deadline falls on August 12, 2028.
For the surviving driver’s personal injury claim, the general deadline under New York law is three years from the crash date (CPLR § 214). With a crash date of August 12, 2026, the personal injury deadline falls on August 12, 2029.
Contact Our Upstate New York Car Accident Attorneys
Being taken from a crash scene by ambulance while another driver didn’t survive is something nobody is prepared for. The pressure that follows – hospital bills, calls from insurers, time away from work – doesn’t pause while you recover.
Our Upstate NY car accident lawyers have handled collisions where a left-turn failure to yield caused serious harm, and we understand how quickly the insurance side of a fatal crash moves. When an at-fault driver dies at the scene, their estate and their insurer have professionals protecting their exposure from the first hour. You deserve the same.
Intersection camera footage, event data from both vehicles, and the investigation file from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office are time-sensitive. Securing that material early is one of the most important things an attorney can do in the first days after a crash like this.
There is no cost to speak with us, and no fee 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)
- 18 consecutive Super Lawyers recognitions
- BBB A+ rated
- 4.7 Google rating
- Available 24/7, including home and hospital visits
- Spanish-language services available
- No fees unless we win
- No settlement without your consent
Talk to an Upstate NY Car Accident Lawyer at 888-997-3889
