Rochester, NY (June 27, 2026) – Two people were killed, and a third driver remained in critical condition after a wrong-way crash on the Inner Loop early Friday morning, according to New York State Police.
Troopers said the crash happened at about 1:50 a.m. on the eastbound Inner Loop near Joseph Avenue in Monroe County. Investigators said a 2024 Honda CR-V driven by a 39-year-old woman was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes when it collided head-on with a 2012 Ford Fusion driven by a 21-year-old man. A second 21-year-old man was a passenger in the Ford.
After the initial collision, police said, the Ford entered the path of a 2012 Jeep Liberty driven by Marvin T. Harmon, 29, of Rochester, causing a second crash. The driver and front-seat passenger of the Ford were pronounced dead at the scene. The Honda driver became unresponsive at the scene and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, where she remained in critical condition.
Harmon was evaluated at the scene and also taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and ordered autopsies for both victims.
The identities of the Ford driver and passenger had not been released as of initial reporting. This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
A crash that takes two lives and leaves a third person fighting for survival on a Rochester highway can leave multiple families with no clear answers and no one to help them navigate what happens next.
What to Do After a Fatal Wrong-Way Crash in New York
When a driver traveling the wrong way causes a fatal collision, families of the victims typically have legal options even while law enforcement’s investigation is still open. Here is what attorneys and investigators focus on in these cases:
- Who is liable: A wrong-way driver who enters a roadway in the wrong direction may bear significant fault. Investigators will examine how and where the wrong-way entry occurred, whether signage and barriers were adequate, and whether any contributing factors remain under investigation.
- Wrongful death claims run alongside criminal proceedings: A civil wrongful death claim brought by the family is separate from any criminal charges that may follow. Families do not need to wait for a criminal resolution before consulting an attorney about their rights.
- What a wrongful death claim can cover: Under New York law, a wrongful death claim may seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of the deceased’s services and guidance. Separately, the estate may pursue a claim for the conscious pain and suffering experienced before death.
- Evidence is time-sensitive: Vehicle data, roadway surveillance, and any toxicology or inspection records from this incident need to be preserved quickly. Once an insurer’s investigation closes, access to that evidence becomes harder to secure.
- Filing deadline: Under New York law, a wrongful death claim must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (EPTL § 5-4.1). For both victims killed on June 27, 2026, that deadline is June 27, 2028. Consulting an attorney well before that date protects the family’s options.
Contact Our Upstate New York Wrongful Death Attorneys
Losing two family members, or waiting by the phone for news about someone still in critical condition after a crash like this one, is a weight no family should carry without support. We are sorry for what happened on the Inner Loop on June 27.
Our Upstate NY wrongful death lawyers handle fatal crash cases throughout Monroe County and across Upstate New York, including cases involving wrong-way drivers where fault patterns and evidence must be documented before the investigation closes. Stanley Law has a Rochester office and has served families in this community for decades.
Physical evidence from a multi-vehicle crash on a highway, including vehicle data recorders, roadway camera footage, and any regulatory or inspection records, can disappear quickly once law enforcement clears the scene and insurers begin their own review. Time matters in building a complete picture of what happened.
There are no upfront costs and no fees unless we recover for your family.
Why Upstate New York families trust Stanley Law Offices:
- 90+ years of combined legal experience across the firm
- Joe Stanley, Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA)
- Super Lawyers selection, 18 consecutive years
- Home and hospital visits available for families who cannot come to us
- Se habla Español
- Available 24/7
- No fee unless we win your case
Talk With a Rochester Wrongful Death Attorney at 1-800-608-3333
