Hopewell, NY (Sept 4, 2026) – Three drivers were seriously hurt after a three-car crash shut down State Routes 5 and 20 in the town of Hopewell on Friday.
According to the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened just before 11 a.m. at the intersection of Routes 5 and 20 and Algerine Street. Investigators say an 18-year-old driver from Geneva, driving a Chrysler westbound, attempted to pass several vehicles ahead of her and crossed into the eastbound lane, directly into the path of a Subaru driven by a 55-year-old from Geneva. The Subaru struck the Chrysler, spinning it in the lane, where it was then hit by a Kia driven by a 41-year-old from Victor.
All three drivers suffered serious injuries. The Chrysler driver was airlifted by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. The Subaru and Kia drivers were taken to the same hospital by ambulance. As of Friday night, the Subaru driver remained in the emergency room, and the Kia driver was listed in guarded condition.
Routes 5 and 20 were closed for nearly three hours while crews cleared the scene. The investigation is ongoing, and no citations had been issued as of the initial report.
Unsafe passing is one of the most dangerous maneuvers on a two-lane highway. It puts a driver directly in the path of oncoming traffic, often leaving everyone involved with almost no room to react.
What Are Your Legal Rights If You Were Hurt by an Unsafe Pass?
If you were driving the Subaru or the Kia in this crash, or you have been hurt in a similar crash caused by another driver passing unsafely into your lane, you were not at fault. New York law allows you to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering from the driver who caused the crash.
Crashes involving three or more vehicles can get complicated quickly, especially when more than one driver is hurt, and more than one insurance company gets involved. Each insurer may try to protect its own policyholder, which can leave an injured driver caught in the middle while medical bills pile up.
An experienced Upstate New York car accident lawyer can obtain the full police investigation, identify every insurance policy that may apply, including the at-fault driver’s coverage and your own underinsured motorist coverage if needed, and make sure your claim doesn’t get lost in the shuffle because more than one other vehicle was involved.
Contact Stanley Law Offices
Stanley Law Offices is a personal injury law firm serving Upstate New York, with offices in Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Binghamton, Watertown, Oneonta, Cortland, and Batavia. For decades, our attorneys have represented people hurt in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace injuries, and other serious cases, helping them recover the compensation they are owed. We also help people denied Social Security Disability benefits get the support they need.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident anywhere in our service area, call Stanley Law Offices today at (888) 997-3889 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win, and we advance all costs of building your case, so reaching out costs you nothing.
