Verona, NY (April 15, 2026) – A three-vehicle crash on Rome New London Road in the Town of Verona left four people injured, with one vehicle catching fire during the incident. Deputies from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office responded at about 4:30 a.m. to the crash.
Gary Wilson, 49, of Oneida, was driving south when he collided head-on with an SUV driven north by Ben Irwin, 27, of Cicero. A third vehicle, driven north by Bryant Brownell, 36, of East Syracuse, also struck one of the vehicles during the crash.
A vehicle caught fire after the collision. Bystanders helped Wilson and his 17-year-old passenger escape before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
Three people were taken to Wynn Hospital, and one person went to Rome Health for treatment. While the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, the full severity has not been disclosed.
New York State Police and local law enforcement are investigating the cause of the crash.
Multi-Vehicle Collision Liability Under New York Traffic Law
Three-car crashes in New York often involve complicated questions of fault, particularly when multiple drivers and insurance carriers are involved. New York follows a Pure Comparative Negligence standard, which means that injured parties may recover compensation even if they bear some degree of fault — though their award will be reduced proportionally by their share of responsibility. This is especially important in multi-vehicle accidents where determining the sequence of events and the actions of each driver is critical to establishing liability.
New York’s No-Fault system requires that injured drivers and passengers first access their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages, up to $50,000. To pursue additional compensation for pain and suffering, victims must meet the Serious Injury threshold defined under New York Insurance Law § 5102(d). Because crashes on rural roads in Oneida County can involve high speeds and significant impact forces, injuries that appear minor at first may later meet this threshold. Working with an experienced Utica car accident lawyer — serving Oneida County and the surrounding region — can help victims understand their rights, identify all available insurance coverage, and file claims before New York’s three-year statute of limitations expires.
Stanley Law Offices extends its thoughts to everyone affected by the Rome New London Road crash in Verona or a similar multi-vehicle accident anywhere across upstate New York. If you or a loved one was injured, our attorneys are ready to help you understand your options at no upfront cost.
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